THEFT OF A PAPER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 22 March 1928, Page 9

THEFT OF A PAPER.

TAKEN FROM ROADSIDE,

STOCK DROVER CONVICTED.

A conviction for the theft of a newspaper which had been left on 'the roadside outside the gateway of the house for which it was intended Alias followed by a -nominal fine imposed in the Hawera Court to-day by Mr J. S. Barton, &.M., Avho, however, gave a warning that lenient treatment could not be° expected if any further charges of a similar nature were successfully preferred.

Defendant in the case was Lancelot Goodger, 20 years of age, a stock drover living at UaAvera, wild pleaded not guilty to the theft on March 2 ot a newspaper valued at 2d. Defendant was represented by Mr P. U’Dea. Opening the. prosecution, .Sergeant Henry said that a service car driver named Dykes, -who delivered -papers on the W'aihi Road, saw defendant reading a paper at -about 7 o'clock and the latter, Avhen questioned, said he had taken the paper from outside a gate a short distance away and intended to return it later. Evidence to tlhi-s effect Avas given by Charles Dykes, who further said thla.t as a result the police- had been advised and defendant, was found with the paper still in hiis possession about half an hour latei at Norlnanby,*almost a mile further away from the gate where the paper had been left. 5 “It i.s not because of the value of the paper that I m'ade the complaint, but because of tho annoyance,” continued witness. ‘‘This thing is happening almost every day and consequently I am in trouble because people do not get their papers.” , ANNOYANCE TO PUBLISHERS. Constable P. J. Carroll deposed to having been told by defendant, who when seen at Normanby still had the paper in liis possession, that .he intended taking it back to the gate referred to by Avitness Dykes. “Undoubtedly the removal of papers left for subscribers is a serious thing and may be the cause of -much trouble to publishers, but in this ease there Avas no intention to actually steal the paper,” said Mr O’Dea. Giving evidence defendant said he AA'hs driving about 130 sheep on the road in the direction of Nornianby. The paper, Avhieh had been trampled on, Avas lying on the side of the roadAvay and witness formed the impression is had been dropped from a ear. It AA'ias not until he Avas spoken to by Dykes that he kneAv the paper belonged to anyone in particular and he then said he would leave it at the house it AA r as intended for when on his A\ r ay back. “I am not satisfied that defendant hn s been candidly telling the truth. 1-Ie is in the position of having taken the paper and avc have only his Avoid that lie intended to take it back,” said the magistrate. “The matter is one Avhieh I know causes considerable trouble to newspaper publishers and 1 have known. of a runner bejng dismissed when papers Avere missed. ” Defendant Avould be couA'ic-ted, but in vioAV of tlib fact that the conviction was the first of the kind in the district,, a nominal penalty of 5s only would-be inflicted. In the event -of any future conviction, liOA\'CA 7 er, such len iency Avould not be extended, conclud ed the magistrate. Costs amounting to 10s Avere also charged to defendant.