PROBATION FOR THEFT
YOUNG MAN’S OFFENCE Pleading guilty to the theft of £l3 in money, and a wallet valued at 5/-, a. man aged 23 years, single, was given a lecture on the subject of mending his ways, by Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M., in the ...agistrate’s Court. Greymouth, to-day. It was stated that, accused saw the wallet in the room of a boarder, at bis home, and proved unable to resist the sudden temptation to commit theft. Nothing previously, was known against him. Some of the money was t spent by accused, and he said that he
had lost the remainder, and the wallet. He at first denied the theft, when interviewed by the police, but subsequently admitted it. Detective-Sergeant H. E. Knight, who prosecuted, said that, accused’s conduct was such that he required some talking to. Mr. A. H. Paterson, for accused, said the young man was working on a contract, and had received no money since January. He succumbed to sudden temptation, and unfortunately did not make a clean breast of the matter at first. He was one of the supports of his widowed mother. The fact. that, he lost his father when he was very young might account for some lack of control. It was a househeld affair, and Mr. Paterson suggested that accused’s name be suppressed, and that he be admitted to probation on terms which would make him realise the enormity of his offence.
The S.M. said that, having regard to the fact. that, accused was a young man. and might make good, he was prepared to extend leniency on-this occasion. Il would not be extended, however, if accused again came before the Court on a charge of dishonesty. He would be convicted, and placed on probation for 12 months, subject to such special conditions as the Probation Officer might fix. one of the conditions being that restitution of the stolen money must be made by instalments, to be paid monthly. In regard to the suppression of accused's name, in view of the fact that probation was being granted, he was prepared to make an order, prohibiting publication of the name. Accused’s offence was serious, and one in respect of which lie could be sentenced to imprisonment for six months, with hard labour. No doubt, said .Mr. Ferner, if the interests of the community wore the only interests he had to guard, he would have sent accused to prison. Accused must, make up his mind that this must be his only lapse.
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Bibliographic details
Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1937, Page 2
Word Count
417PROBATION FOR THEFT Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1937, Page 2
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