THEFT OF GOLD

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2399, 8 April 1931, Page 5

THEFT OF GOLD

AIAITAKIPA\VA INCIDENT A .MINER’S TEMPTATION Tin* lure of gold has led many men into crime, anil, once again exercising its fatal fascination, it was the undoing of James Meagher, 45. a miner, who held a position of trust with the Alahakipawa Goldfields, Ltd., at. Alahakipawa. Marlborough. Alt ngher’s job was in the shaft at the working face where he had first look at the “pay dirt.” There, safe from observation, he allowed temptation to get the hotter of him and filched tit-liits from the spoil before it was sent to the surface. He was arrested at Havelock last week. When charged at Court with the theft of the gold he pleaded guilty. . Constable Hardy stated that, for a month past there had existed a strong suspicion that, gold was being stolen from the mine at Alahakipawa, and the position was causing the management grave concern. Follow-

ing extensive inquiries he arrester! the accused, who had 3joz. of what was indisputably Alahakipawa gold in his possession. He was a man who had been placed in a position of

Meagher, who had no defence to offer, expressed sorrow that he had committed the theft. He sai l the temptation was too great when the gold was there in such quantities. The Court imposed a sentence of one month’s imprisonment, after being informed that so far as. was known the accused had previously borne a stainless-character.