COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 9 January 1941, Page 8

COURT NEWS

WELLINGTON CHEMIST ROBBED. WELLINGTON, January 8. “This man is looked upon as an active thief and a notable pickpocket," said Detective-Sergeant McLennan, of John Sandforf Valvoi, 42, who wa's convicted by Mr. Stout., S.M., on a charge of the theft of toilet articles valued at £3 2s 6d. from the shop of John Cunningham, chemist, at Newtown, and was sentenced to three months’ hard labour.

The story told was that Valvoi. in company with another man, visited the shop and ordered the goods, and, in the course of conversation, put a demonstration wrestling hold on Cunningham. They left the shop, after saying that they would pay for the goods when they had collected some money. Cunningham immediately afterwards found that his wallet was missing from his pocket. This part of the story was strongly objected to by. counsel who said that Valvoi was not charged with this. Lt was intended to prejudice _ accused, and was improper. What did it matter how the man thought his wallet got out of his pocket? ‘‘Well, you can leave it at that,’’ said Mr. Stout, and no further reference was made to the question. Cunningham said that somebody later went to the shop and paid for the goods. He admitted that he relied on the, promise to bring the cash back, and that he had actually been paid for the goods. Detective Alty said that, when interviewed, Valvoi at first denied being in the shop. Later, he admitted that he was there with the other man, adding that it was only a debt. “Anyway, I don’t think it was only a debt,-” said Mr. Stout. “I think it was a deliberate attempt to swindle the chemist, and this man was in it. He was certainly an accessory, if nothing else.’’