KEY THAT FITTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 107, 2 November 1939, Page 8

KEY THAT FITTED

CLEANER'S LAPSE

in, the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., Horace ReginalrLHafry Emerson, a cleaner, described as a native of England, 33 years o£a'ge, pleaded guilty to four charges o&'-theft of sums of money ranging from 3s 6d to £1 12s, totalling £3 ss, the property of George Flower Harrison^, and alsto to a charge of breaking arid entering the shop of G. F. Harrison 'at 172 Featherston Street with intent- to, commit theft. He was also jointly 'charged with Albert Charles Brown, a native of England, 34 years of age, described as a seaman and labourer, with attempted theft of 2s 6d iri money. Both men pleaded guilty. A further ■ charge against Brown of breaking and entering the premises with intent to commit a crime was not proceeded with, the police intimating that they (did not propose to offer any evidence on that charge. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said that' Emerson had a key admitting him to the building to clean the passageways, but he had no right to enter any of the offices. Finding that his key fitted the lock on Harrison's rooms, he entered them and committed the thefts. On October 26 he met Brown, wlio* was also a window cleaner, and told, him that the key would fit Harrison's rooms and that he knew where they could get some money there. Two detectives secreted on the premises; saw the men enter, femerson was ar^ rested but Brown "got away and was later arrested in Masterton. Emerson had a wife and child and had not previously been before the Court on any charge involving dishonesty. Brown was an unemployed labourer, but up to three months ago he was employed as-a window cleaner by the same firm that' employed Emerson. He had one conviction involving dishonesty away back in;.' 1932. There was no doubt that the other man was responsible for

taking him'to the premises. "* Mr. G. Mellish asked for leniency on behalf' of Emerson. They were particularly stupid thefts, he said. Emerson had stated that this experience would be "a lesson to him. He would, of course, have to refund the £3 ss. Mr. R. Hardie Boys suggested that the-Court ■ should deal with Brown on the fact ihat he had played only a

very minor part. He was a married ' man with two children and had 'a sheep-shearing ■ job waiting for him. On the morning when he entered the premises he had.had more liquor than '■ he should have had.

Brown was convicted and ordered to '-- 'come up for sentence within three * mopths if called upon. The Magistrate said-that as far as Emerson was concerned he would take into consideration^ the fact that, although there had beeri' a series of thefts, the same circumstances applied to each. He would be • given another chance. Emerson was admitted to probation for twelve months, a -.condition being that he ,- makes restitution of'the £3 56.