AFTERMATH OF FIRE

Evening Star, Issue 22204, 5 December 1935, Page 13

AFTERMATH OF FIRE

HOUSE FITTINGS REMOVED MAN CONVICTED OF THEFT The removal of property fr6m a residence in Heriot Row, partially destroyed by fire last month, led to James Frank Watson M'lvor (35) pleading guilty in the Police Court to-day, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., to the theft, on November 28, of two ranges, three register grates, a copper circulator, a copper boiler, a set of bath tubs, a lavatory pedestal, and a quantity of cast iron, of a total value of £2 ss, the property of Ashley William Cooper. . Chief-detective Young said that on November 15 a residence in Heriot Row, belonging to Mrs Sutton, was partially destroyed by fire. Accused was present during the fire and later told Mrs Sutton that he wanted to buy the old iron and odds and ends. _ She replied that she could do nothing until the fire assessor had dealt with the matter. Accused gave assistance to the owner’s son in removing some goods. Tenders were called for the remains of the building and contents, that of Mr Cooper being accepted. Accused returned to the property and removed the articles, selling them to a dealer. On the loss being reported by Mr Cooper, accused was interviewed by Detective Lo Sueur, and replied that he thought he had authority from Mrs Sutton to take the goods. He was confronted with her, and she definitely denied that he had any authority. Accused said he had done some work about the place and had some rightrto the goods. M'lvor had an unenviable record, but had been, conducting himself all right since his last discharge from prison. He was a married man with two children. ' . “ The offence was typical of the man,” said the Probation Officer (Mr J. Garbutt). , The Magistrate: This is not an ordinary case of theft. He seenis to have had some colour of right. “ He had no colour of right,” replied Mr Young. “ According to his list, he has had that idea in his head right through life.” ■ . . The ’circumstances were _ certainly peculiar, remarked the magistrate, in convicting M'lvor and ordering him to come up for sentence if called upon within three months, a condition being that he repaid £2 ss, one-half within a week and the balance within a month.