"TOO OLD"

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 34, 9 August 1921, Page 8

"TOO OLD"

THIEF'S STORY DISBELIEVED.

" That story of meeting a man in the street is too old," remarked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at'the Magistrate's Court this morning in a case in which a man named Thomas M. Vernon was, charged with stealing on 18th July a .cart saddle and breeching, valued at £12, the property of the New Zealand Automatic Bakeriesjitd. Accused was also charged with stealing two pair of reins of the value of £1 belonging to the same firm. There was an alternative'charge of stealing the saddle arid breeching. Detective-Sergeant Andrews prosecuted.; - George Frederick Jordan, stableman in charge of the Automatic Bakeries' stable in Tory-street, stated 1 that between 4.30 and 5 o'clock on the afternoon of 18th July, he was absent from the stable.. The sa-dldde and .breeching were missing when he retirnrod-

William Henry Hargroaves, licensed carrier, stated that on (the evening of 19th July accused, who gave his name as T. Williams, called at his house, and said he had sold his horse and' cart, andi wanted to get rid of the harness. Accusedl said he would take £5 for tho harness, but he agreed to take £4 Witness gave the accused a crossed cheque for £3, the arrangement being that tho remaining £1 was to be i»;d. whon the reins were brought. Accused came round with the reins the next day, and was paid £1 for them. . . ' ■

Detective Walsh said that, when he interviewed the accused on 2nd August, Vernon. denied that, he had sold any harness. Later, in a statement" at the detective office, accused said he 'had bought the harness in Cxiba-street ' 'from a man he did not know," having' paid £3 for it. Accused gave a description of the man Irom whom he ''said he bought the harness.

From the dock accused affirmed that he had bought the harness from a man in Cuba-street. r

"Of course, I don't believe you," said his> Worship. "That story of meeting a man in the street is. too old."

It was stated that accused had been twice previously dealt with for theft, .ami on 23rd March last was prohibited and admitted to probation. ■■ "You had. your opportunity before, but you didn't avail yourself of it," remarked the Magistrate to accused. "You a,re sentenced to three months' imprisonment on each charge of theft, the sentences to l>e Concurrent.'•'

The charge of receiving was dis. missed. ' ■ ■ .