THEFT AT DINNER

Evening Post, Issue 52, 2 March 1935, Page 21

THEFT AT DINNER

MECHANIC FINED

The theft of a. handbag and its contents, including money, making a total value of about £12 7s Cd, was admitted in the Magistrate's Court yesterday by Robert Edward Norman, aged 26, a motor mechanic, and he was fined £5 by Mr. E. Page, S.M. An order was also made for the restitution of £2 Is 7d not recovered, and default of payment vvas fixed at two months' imprisonment. '

Detective-Sergeant L. Kevell said that on the evening of February 25 the accused met the owner of the bag, Mrs. Olga N. A. Hughes, at the Masonic Hotel and had started to have dinner with her. Before the meal was finished Mrs. Hughes had to leave for a while, and on Her return the accused and her bag were missing. Detectives W; Ritchie and J. G. Long later interviewed him and he admitted the offence. He was a married man and had previously been before the Court. Mr. A. B". Sievwright pointed out that the accused's previous appearance in Court had been in 1920, when he was only 17 years of age. Since then he had led an honest and useful life in permanent employment. Lately, through an injury, he had been temporarily off work and he had spent a lot of time in hotels. He had succumbed to a sudden temptation, possibly because of indulgence in liquor. Counsel asked that probation be granted. The Probation Officer (Mr. T. P. Mills) said that Norman's conduct was quite satisfactory, and he recommended a fine.