COURT NEWS.

Grey River Argus, 15 January 1929, Page 4

COURT NEWS.

At the MagistatH’s Court yesterday, a young married man, Harold W liahi Hudson, appearing on remand, was charged with enc <ring the house of one John Robertson at Dobson by oay and stealing therefrom the sum of 5/-. Mr W. P. McCarthy appeared fpr accused, and suggestfxl to the Magistrate that the charge be reduced to one of ordinary theft, oh tbo amount wajs so small, and the circumstances of the- case were such a* to warrant the accusal being dealt with by the Magistrate’s Court. After consideration it was agreed to reduce the charge to onu of ordinary theft, and an additional charge of mischief, Accused was then charged with stealing 5/-, the property of John Robertson, on the 29th Ded jnber, and damage to a .suitcase to thjij extent of 12/6, thereby committing mischief. The Senior Sergeant stated that accused had bevn out of work, and was a married with two young children. He had been hard pressed for money, on the Saturday in question Mr Robertaou. \he occupier of a «maA nux known as “The Barracks” at Dobson had locked up his suit case, leaving only a. few coppers and three-pLnny pieces lying about, totalling five shillings in all He left the hut about 9 a.m., and returned at 145 p.m. to find that durng' fhe interval hia suitcash had been burst open, but nothing was missing from it. Th spare cash lying about however, was gone. Entry had been gained a broken window pan|3. Mr McCarthy said that accused was 23 jrears of age, and had been inured aF Dobson, ten weeks ago. He had been Jiving at’ Refton. He had mji.de trips there to Dobson tq be examined. During that period he had only received £lO in compensation, and had been, driven to desperat’on, and had foolishly made a slip by stealing thei sum of «/-. Hl had been faced with temptations which did not occur to tjhe average man. He had never been before a Court previously ,and was a good worker. Counsel submitted that it was a case for probation and considered a term of twelve months would meet the case. In connection with the damage sustained, he asked that time *

be given to make payment, as accused was not fit to resume work. The 5s had not been recovered. When Robertson had faxed accused with the theft, he had admitted it., and stated h e would make good the amount. The Senior Sergeant said that Hudson had never been under the notice of the police before. The Magistrate convicted accused, and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within twelve months, and ordered him .to make good the damage, amounting to 12s 6d, return the ss, and report to the police once every month. Witness expenses, amounting to Ils 2d, were also ordered to be paid by accused.