THEFT OF CIGARETTES

Evening Star, Issue 24917, 15 July 1943, Page 4

THEFT OF CIGARETTES

MILITARY DESERTER BEFORE COURT

Described as a deserter from the Army, (Robert AVark Johnston, aged 23, appeared in the Police Court this morning before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., to plead guilty to the theft of a canvas bag, a quantity of cigarettes (about 3,000), and a of whisky, of a total vaule of £l3 10s, the property of Walter John Ellis. Accused was represented by Mr 0. G. Stevens. Detective-sergeant Le' Sueur said the complainant' was a member of the United States forces, and had a depot in his room at a city hotel from which he supplied visiting marines with cigarettes. He kept his room locked, but entry 4 was gained through the fire escape, and the articles mentioned in the charge stolen. Accused had been seen in the vicinity and was ultimately traced to Christchurch. At the time of his arrest he was a deserter from a military camp. There was a _ list of previous convictions, the detective sergeant said. # Mr Stevens said Johnston was in a draft to go overseas, and suggested that he might be handed over to the military authorities and kept in confinement for a period.until he sailed. . Counsel said liquor had been'the cause of the theft. Mr Bartholomew sentenced Johnston to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.