THEFT AT BLACKBALL

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 July 1924, Page 4

THEFT AT BLACKBALL

YOUNG MAN’S TEMPTATION.

Shortage of‘ cash tempted Robert William Alister Leem'ing, aged 22, employed at Blackball to steal £7 in notes from the‘hip pocket of William Allen, a fellow boarder at the Dominion Hotel yesterday. He pleaded guilty to the charge at the Magistrate’s Uourt, before Mr W. Meldrum, S.M., to-day, and elected to be dealt, with summarily. * Senior-Sergt. P. J. McCarthy prosecuted, and Mr . W. P. McCarthy appeared for the accused. Constable Guerdon said the complainant stated to him yesterday morning that he had lost £7 —one £5 note and two single £1 notes, one of which was a “brand new” Bank of New Zealand note. He had left his money in his pocket at the hotel. Witness was not satisfied with the interview he had with defendant, and made enquiries at various hotels, eventually going to the confectioner’s shop, the assistant in which stated that a young man had called in the previous night and bought two handkerchief boxes with a pound note, which was identified by the complainant as part of the money he had lost. Defendant at first denied having spent the money, but eventualy admitted the theft, and £4 12/ of the money was found at the rear of an outhouse. ”

To Mr McCarthy: The accused.had borne a good character, worked hard and kept respectable company. As far as he knew there were no previous convictions against hini._ Mr McCarthy pleaded for leniency in view of the youth of the accused, the sudden temptation to which he was subjected when he found himself short of money, and in view of his good character. Mr McCarthy asked that the provisions of the Probationers’ Act be extended towards him, and that the name be suppressed. The Magistrate said the case was one in which the Probationers’ Act should be extended. As to the suppression of his name, he did not think there were any exceptional features in the case that would warrant that. In any case, the circumstances would be well known in Blackball, where the accused lived and worked. “I think this provision is one that should be exercised with great care,” said the Magistrate, “and only under certain circumstances.” The accused would be convicted and admitted to probation for lg months, the money to refunded within a fortnight.