VANDALISM AT GARDENS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 131, 30 November 1926, Page 11

VANDALISM AT GARDENS

ROSE THIEF CAUGHT REDHANDED.

The theft of roses and other flowers, worth £1, belonging to the Wellington City Council, and the wilful damaging of flowers and flower bods in tho Botanical Gardens, resulted in Frederick George Lambert, a cook, aged 56, making his appearance in the Magistrate's Court to-day. He was also charged with the theft of a rug, worth £5, belonging to Nettie M'Kay. Constable Ibister gave evidence thathe caught Lambert in the Gardens at night with the roses in his possession. Henry Moss, foreman at tho Botanical Gardens, said that roses, as well as violet and pansy plants, had been Imisaed from the lyods for several night, but the depredations had ceased after the accused had been arrested. He had often seen Lambert i:-. the Gardens. With regard to the rug, Chief-Detec-tive Ward stated that it had been missed from a verandah in Kelburn, and had been recovered subsequently i.L ; a pawnshop. Lambert had sold it for 7s 6d, and had given a wrong name. Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., sentenced the accused to threo months' imprison-, ment for stealing the rug, and to one month's imprisonment for taking the roses, the terms to bo concurrent. He was convicted and discharged for wilfully damaging the flower beds.