"PETTY THIEVING."

Franklin Times, Volume XX, Issue 75, 2 July 1930, Page 5

"PETTY THIEVING."

"IT MUST BE STOPPED."

IN A CIVILISED COUNTRY

COMMENT BY JUSTICES

"This petty thieving can't be allowed to go on in a civilised country. It must be stopped, otherwise offenders

will have to go to gaol," said Mr C. K

Lawrie, J.P.. at a sitting of the Police Court at Pukekohe yesterday morning when convicting a young Maori on charges of theft.

Messrs C. K. Lawrie and A. P. Daysh, J.s'P., were on the Bench.

Mori Searancke, a young Maori, who has seen the sunshine of about 20 summers, was charged that on June 20 at Pukekohe he did'steal 7/0 the property of Frederick James Wilson: £3/5/6 the property of Ernest Stanley Swatton, and on June 27, 5/the property of F. J. Wilson. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges and on the major offence elected to be dealt with summarily. Sergt. J. T. Cowan, who prosecuted, said that nuring the temporary absence of both shopkeepers, accused entered i their places of business and stole the nroney. On Friday last a trap was set and accused was noticed hanging about. Marked coins were found to be missing, and accused was arrested. He denied the offences at first, but when the marked coins were found in his possession, he admitted stealing the money—a total of £3 18s. He had previously been convicted at Tq Kuiti on six charges of theft. Sergt. | Cowan asked for an order for resti- j tution. He held £4 10s paid in as bail money, and the bailee was willing that the amount stolen be refunded from this.

The Bench in convicting accused on all charges ordered him to make restitution forthwith. On the charge of stealing £3 5s 6d he was convicted and fined £lO, in default three months' imprisonment.