YOUNG MAN’S LAPSE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10476, 5 January 1928, Page 3

YOUNG MAN’S LAPSE

THEFT AND' FALSE PRETENCES

THREE YEARS’ PROBATION

A young man, Francis John Cnssitly, aged 33, appeared before Mi. E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday and admitted charires of obtaining from the Cash Stores, on December 4, 1927, goods and money to the value of £3O 9s by means of a valueless cheqfie drawn on the' bank of N.S.W. and signed "W. Barron.” He was further charged with the theft at Hexton on December 24, 1927, of a watch, a pair of spectacles, six .tins of matches and a plug of tobacco valued at £l. the property of Erie Christiansen. Detective McLeod explained thni drink was the cause of Cassidy's lapse, lie having been once previous % lv convicted of theft in 1919 In the Present cases, lie had visited the Cash Stores where,, after pur-basing a silk shirt and hat, he tendered a cheque which he declared was foi wages he had earned. Receiving £26 10s in change, C'assidv started a drinking bout and on his arrest had onlv 4/6 in his possession. Accused had admitted that ho had committed the offences on his own account, hut he’ (Detective McLeod) was satisfied there were others in it with him. In suggesting a term of probation.’ Detective McLeod explained that all the stolen articles, with the excep fcio’n of the spectacles, had been" re covered. The Magistrate admitted accuse.* to probation for three vears on tin first charge, conditional upon himaking restitution of the monev ant •roods and pacing costs. Re cony*.fed and. discharged accused on the other charge and made a prohibition ordagainst him during the period of his probation.