THEFT OF WATCHES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6203, 7 October 1921, Page 6

THEFT OF WATCHES.

LOW PRICES PAID BY SECONDHAND DEALERS. MAORI TO DO TWO YEARS’ REFORMATIVE TREATMENT. A young Native named Pine Karakiakore, at present serving a sentence of 12 months’ reformative treatment for theft, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court Yesterday morning before Mr J. S./Barton. S.M., further charged with the theft, on September 27, of two watches valued at £5, the property of Percy Williamson Sargisson. Senior-Sergt.'Fitzpatrick said complainant was caretaker at the Government Buildings, and on September 27 had hung liis vest containing the two wat-ches under the main staircase. On going later to' get the vest he missed the watches. As the result of inquiries by the police then prosecuted, both the watches were found in second-hand dealers’ shops, having been sold for 2s and 5s respectively. Complainant identified the watches (produced) and saic\ he valued one at £3 and the other at £2. Constable Campbell gave evidence as to the finding of one watch in Geo. Smith’s pawnshop, where it had been sold for ss. The other watch was found in Coleman’s second-hand shop where it had been sold for 2s. In both cases the entries of the transactions had been properly made. Re-called by the Senior-Sergeant, witness said he interviewed accused in regard to the theft at the gaol, and though lie at first “hung fire,” he later admitted the offence; and witness read a statement, signed by accused, to that effect. Accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. His Worship sentenced him to 2 years’ reformative treatment at the Invercargill gaol, and ordered that the watches he returned to the owner and the second-hand dealers returned the 7s. His Worship made mention of the exceedingly low price paid for the watches by the secondhand dealers, hut said he would make no comment from the Bench, the Senior-Sergeant pointing out that the dealers assisted the police in the tracing of the thief.