SECOND-HAND DEALER

Grey River Argus, 22 July 1941, Page 8

SECOND-HAND DEALER

FAILURE TO KEEP BOOKS. A second-hand dealer, Sydney William Harris Lousich, of Rutherglen, appeared before Mr G. G. Chisholm, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Greymouth yesterday, and pleaded not guilty to a charge that, being a second-hand dealer, he did lai! to keeo a record book of goods bought. Sergeant W. Cooper said that defendant was a second-hand dealer, of Rutherglen, being granted his license on May 12, 1941. However, he had failed to keep a book showing the date of the transactions and the Barnes and addresses of the people with whom he did business. He (the Sergeant) had received instructions not to press for a penalty, the case being brought simply to impress on defendant that he must keep books. Constable J. Johnston, of Grevmouth, said that early in June, defendant came into the watch house and handed in the book (produc?d) and asked him to hand it to the detectives. as thev wanted it. ’T’l'ie Sergeant in renlv to the Magistrate (Mi’ G. G Chisholm. S.M.) said' that the books must be Kept pronerly. The defendant had also handed in useless receipt books. Defendant asked to be put ir the witness box, where he said that when he had been granted the license, ne had a fear that lie would get into trouble, and he had seen a solicitor. He had now given uo the business and handed in his license. He had been on social security for a week and then had gone into the mint. He had only bought a few things for himself in his camp. He protested that the police had not given him the assistance that they should have. He was afraid to go out because he might make a mistake and get convicted, and he did not want that. He was not educated enough to know how to keen books, and he was worried because he did not want to do anything dishonest. The had not instructed him as to how he should keen the' books He received instructions from the solicitor and had kept strictlv to those instructions. He was worried so much that he would be in th" hospital if he had any more He again pomnUiined at the ’ack of assistance from the police. In rpnly to the Magistrate, Sergeant Cooner said lhat the nojice would have helped him had thev known he required assistance He was ouite prepared to assist defendant. if he went back to his bus’ness. Defendant: The gruelling I got at the Pol’ce Station was something terrible. I was accused of the theft of bicvc’es and tools, and when I produced evidence to prove that I had stolen nothing, the detectives would no* take it or listen to me. The Magistrate, .ordering d^fen- 1 - ant to be convicted and discharged said that the no’>ce won'.d give him ever • ass'stonce if hn wa'it ”ito '-’’si ness agai”