CASE OF HARDSHIP

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1926, Page 5

CASE OF HARDSHIP

A HARD-lIEARtTjD “BEAK ” AUCKLAND, February <1 It is not very often that a persoin is before the Court charged with th” theft of elcoitric Jight. However, a middle-aged man came before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M.. this morning when be pleaded guilty to* Iraudulent lv consuming electric light valued al 2s 6d, being guilty of theft. ChieJ Detective Cummings, said the accus vd’s landlady had cut oil’ his supply of gasi-irom the meter, and, in order to obtain some hot water to <.ivc his children —who were at the time a |,( ■ faring from the whooping cough, the accused fixed a small piece of wire to the electric wires outside bis house | -nabl n" him ‘O' e’ectrtually heat water for nothing. There was no suggestion that flip accused had committed an offence on any other but one occasion. The circumstances of the case were distressing, as the accused’s was <dso unwell at. the time. Acmis-ed had never before been in trouble. The Magistrate inflicted a. I inc oi 1 £1 and cost*.