COURTS AND OFFENCES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 June 1928, Page 9

COURTS AND OFFENCES.

“A SOCIAL PARASITE.” (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 26. How a mail rewarded a woman’s generosity by stealing from her was revealed in tlie Alagistrate’s Court today when Harold Hardgrave, alias King, a window cleaner, aged 30, appeaa«ed for sentence on a charge of theft and failure to comply with the terms of his release on probation. The police said that the accused told the complainant a hard luck story of a wife and family, and. while complainant was getting some food for him he stole a suit of clothes, which he sold. He was described by the probation officer as a social parasite. A sentence of twelve month s’ imprisonment was imposed.

NO' FRAUD INTENDED. WELLINGTON, June 26. An interesting legal point arose in the Magi strate k( Court to-day in a case in which Leslie Gordon Dunn, nged 23 years, was charged with drunkenness and with obtaining credit by fraudly incurring a debt for taxi hire for £1 3s. Accused hired a taxi and at the end of the journey found that lie had only one shilling in hie. pocket. He. said he thought, he had money and could not understand where it had gone. Tlie magistrate .said: he was not satisfied that fraud had. been intended. Tlie case differed .somewhat from that of a man going into, a .restaurant and obtaining a meal under false pretences. Accused wais. convicted for drunkenness and the second charge was dismissed.

THEFT OF RADIATOR. CAP. AVELLINGTON, June 26. A. detective was walking along Taranaki Street last night when lie saw a man take a radiator cap from an unattended motor car. He accosted him and found in his possession three motor meters and five radiator caps. Tlie man, William Aforrison, a seaman on tlie Canadian Challenger, today pleaded guilty. In reply to the Afagistrnte, the chief detective said that Aforrison would get a market for the articles. They were very hard to identify and the police had lots of complaints. A fine of £5 was imposed, in default a month’s imprisonment, accused to be placed aboard the iship if she sailed before the fine was paid.