GAOL FOR FIVE MONTHS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1946, Page 2

GAOL FOR FIVE MONTHS

THEFTS FROM HOTELS ■ ADMITTED I 1 1 -—- MAGISTRATE’S COURT SITTING When he was “in drink” he was liable to take anything, admitted Edgar Lawrence Gigg, a single man, aged 34 years, who appeared before Mr. A. A. McLachlan, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth, this morning on several charges of theft from hotels in Greymouth and Reefton. The accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. The charges concerned the theft of a pair of slippers and a shirt of a total value of £2/10/-, the property of John Willis Dixon, at Reefton on September 17; and theft at Greymouth on September 16 of a silver wristlet watch valued at £lO/10/-, the property of Ronald Jones; and the theft of various articles of clothing of a total value of £l4/10/5 from Herbert Ambrose Hogg, of Reef ton. Bills Not Paid The accused was discharged from the army in May, 1946, and since then had had only casual jobs, Detective Sergeant C. H. Davis stated. He had arrived at Greymouth about 12 days ago and stayed several days at a local hotel. He had roomed with the complainant Jones, but had “skipped” without paying his board and after taking Jones’ watch. At Reefton he had stayed a night at an hotel and had left early in the morning, again without paying his board, . and also taking with him the articles mentioned in the charges. He had been located at Ngahere by Detective Constable and had assisted, the police in the recovery of the articles. The accused, who had been drinking, had a formidable list of previous convictions. “In view of your army record I could give you a chance and the Court would be very much inclined to overlook some of these matters,” the Magistrate said. “It appears, however, that you have had warnings and opportunities before but you have not profited by them.” He convicted the, accused and on the first charge imposed a sentence of three months’ imprisonment. On each of the other two charges he imposed a sentence of one month’s imprisonment, the terms to be cumulative. Other Charges For permitting a horse to wander in Sedclon Street, Kumara, on August 25 Samuel Merlin Case was convicted’and fined 10/-, with costs 10/- and 2/2 -witness’ expenses. William Brown Chamberlain, who allowed a horse to wander at Kumara on August 21, and Alan William Spark, for permitting a cow to wander, also at Kumara, on August 26, were similarly convicted and fined. John Joseph Brown for operating at Greymouth a motor-vehicle with only one head-light functioning was convicted and fined £1 with 10/costs. ~ ■. Ronald Lawrence McQumn was convicted and fined 5/- with 10/costs for driving a motor-car on fainui street, Greymouth, on July 14 without a driver’s licence. Kenneth Mac Kay, who made a voluntary appearance and pleaded guilty to a charge of operating an unlicensed radio receiving set, was convicted and lined 10/- with 10/- costs.