THEFT OF CASH

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1929, Page 2

THEFT OF CASH

A BRUNNERTON CASE Instead of delivering an envelope containing £4/10/- to the firm to which it was addressed, John McMinn converted the money to his own use. He appeared at the Greymouth Court before Mr. W. Meldrum, S.M., to-day, and was charged with the theft. He pleaded guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Senior-Sergeant C. E. Roach stated that accused was, on Thursday, given an envelope containing the money, by Ronald Mclnnes, butcher, of Brunrierton. The money was to be delivered to Nancarrow and Co., Greymouth, but accused converted it to his own use, and spent most of it. Mr. W. J. Joyce, who represented accused, said that the latter had been off work recently, having had the top of one of his fingers accidentally taken off. He intended to deliver the money, but got under the influence of liquor, and could not resist the temptation to take the money. He intended to refund it to Mclnnes, but was to late, information having been given to the police. Accused was married, and was living at Kaiata. “Is anything known against him?” asked the S.M.

The Senior-Sergeant said that accused was a native of Dobson. He did not bear a good character. He was been accused of theft previously, and was dismissed from the Railways Department. “I resigned,” said McMinn. Mr. Joyce said there was no evidence to prove the previous charge

“Anyway, he was under a cloud,” said the Senior-Sergeant. When accused left the Railways Department he started work in the Blackball mine, but said that black damp got on his chest, and he had been off work about six months. He was married, and his wife lived with hei' people at Dobson. Accused did not have a good’ name at all. In reply to the S.M., Sergeant J. Smyth stated that only about four shillings of the money had been recovered. Accused declared that his wife had. gone through his pockets before the constable arrived, and he did not know what his wife had taken out.

The S.M.: When can you make good this £4/10/-? —Right away, sir. The S.M.: You are convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months, and ordered to pay £4/10/- and 10/- taxi hire forthwith, the £4/10/- to be paid to Mclnnes. You must understand that you are still liable to be sentenced on this charge if you are before the Court again on any charge at all within twelve months.