COOK GAOLED

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1941, Page 4

COOK GAOLED

NELSON ’DROME CASE. LONG LIST OF THEFTS. NELSON, January 7. William Charles Marriott, a cook at the Nelson aerodrome, who was stated to have had seventeen previous convictions, appeared before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M., in the Magistrates Court this morning on charges of theft and false pretences. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Detective-Sergeant F. Hayhurst said that Marriott was well-known to the police and had seventeen previous convictions for dishonesty. On December 23 he called at the Nelson Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund Society’s office and while there picked up an order form and made it out for £4. He took it to Trathen and Co., Ltd., and received goods to the value of the order, later selling them for much less than their value. While at the Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Society’s office he had also taken a camer a valued at £2, the property of Harry Saunders. Marriott was a cook at the Nelson aerodrome, said Detective-Sergeant Hayhurst, and he believed he was quite a good worker. In answer to a question by the Magistrate as to how the goods were sold the detective said that Marriott had sold them to a young man who had suspected that there was something wrong and taken the goods to the police station. There was no question of his being charged with receiving stolen goods. Claiming that he was drunk when he committed the crimes, defendant asked for another chance. He was sure that he was giving satisfaction at the aerodrome and thought he would be able to get back there if given the opportunity. He was a returned soldier and had lost his eye in the war, and his son had gone overseas with the First Echelon of the Second N.Z.E.F. “I advise you not to lean on the patriotism of your son,” said the Magistrate, who asked if defendant seriously asked for another chance with his record of 17 convictions. When would he consider he had had enough chances Marriott said he could pay the £4 on his next pay day and he would also make a donation of £5 to the Patriotic Fund if given another chance. Remarking that he was incorrigible. however, tfie Magistrate passed sentence, ordering restitution of the camera.