PAINTER GAOLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 4, 4 July 1940, Page 9

PAINTER GAOLED

THEFT FROM EMPLOYER

"I have no. doubt whatever about this man's guilt," declared Mr. A. M. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, in reference to John McLean, aged 33,' a painter, whom he sentenced to four months' imprisonment for. stealing £15 from His em-

ployer, H. E. Guise, and convicted'and, discharged him for stealing from Guise: paperhanging material valued st 17s! 9d. ■••■-:

■ Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said that McLean borrowed from his foreman the key of Guise's paint shop in Vivian Street, and paid two visits to the premises on the night of Sunday, June 23. and another visit in the early hours of the morning of Monday, June 24. He told the fqreman he wanted to get some tools of his.' Fifteen pounds in money left by Mr. Guise in a cashbox on the premises was alleged to have been stolen by the accused. Early in the morning of June 24 fire broke out in the premises and people sleeping in another'part of the building were fortunate" to escape with their lives. Mr. Doyle said he did not suggest that McLean deliberately set the place on fire; but certainly his.action contributed to the outbreak. In a statement to Detective Urquhart he admitted taking the money and the material.

For the defence, Mr. R. Hardie Boys said that McLean admitted the facts as outlined, except that he did not take the money. He was not aware of having admitted the theft of the money, for he was under the influence of

liquor when he gave his statement to the police. • Mr. Doyle did not agree with this. ; Evidence .was given by police' witnesses and by McLean. In his statement to the police the latter at, first denied the, theft of the money and'then admitted it, and said he lit a cigarette in the shop but did; not wilfully, set fire to anything. He was fairly "drunk that night. In evidence' he said he intended to repay Guise for-the paperhanging materials.. ' . .