THEFT OF GOODS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 74, 29 March 1939, Page 4

THEFT OF GOODS

DURING CITY FIRE

YOUNG MAN BEFORE COURT

Last night's fire in the city had its sequel in the Magistrate's Court today, when Raymond Arthur Joh'anson, a glazier, aged 18 years, appeared before Mr. W. F. Stilwell, S.M., on charges of stealing torches and magazines, to

a value of five shillings, from Arthur McDonald and another. The defendant, who pleaded guilty, was remanded until tomorrow pending a report from the probation officer.

"When the fire started last evening.*' said Sub-Inspector J. Dempsey, wno represented the Police, "shop proprietors in the vicinity were busy removing goods. There is a possibility that the defendant had some com-

panions with him, and that he had actually assisted to remove some goods. But a member of the Wellington Fire Brigade Police entered an electrical goods shop and. found the defendant stuffing torches into his pockets. When he was asked what he was doing the defendant said he was helping the proprietor (McDonald); the proprietor had gone out but would be back in a few minutes.

"When Mr. McDonald returned shortly afterwards, however," the SubInspector added, "the defendant unloaded his potkets and ran away from the shop. He and two young men were questioned, and in the defendant's possession were found two magazines; but we do not know from what shop they came."

Johanson. he said, had not been ba« fore the Court previously. '