“STUPID JOKE.”

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 7

“STUPID JOKE.”

THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED . LONDON, June 16. • What he himsielf described as a stupid practical joke led to James Stanley R. Reeves, 23, Barrister, Em-peror’s-gate, London, being charged :-t Bury St. Edmunds yesterday with stealing four £1 notes belonging to the Flempton Golf Club. The charge was dismissed.

A police-constable told how, while secreted in the golf house, he saw Reeves go to a coat and take the four notes from a wallet in the pocket. When told that he would be charged with stealing it was alleged that Reeves said, “Oh God I I admit it. I took it,” and he took six £1 notes, which included the four mentioned in the charge, from his pocket. Reeves said thqt he was educated at Rugby and Cambridge, and was called to the Bar two years ago. While in the dressing room he noticed the wallet with part of a pound note visible. • . “I thought what a jolly good thing it would be to give this person, who left a note sticking out of his wallet, a fright, and very foolishly I took the money out of the wallet. J put the notes in my hip pocket, intending to take them round the nine holes, bring them into the club house, and hand them over to the secretrary or owner, and tell him not to be such a careless fool again.” Judge R. R. Reeve, K. C., a Countycourt judge, who lives in Worcestershire, the defendant’s father, gave ! evidence as to bis son’s character.