HASTINGS COURT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 89, 30 March 1932, Page 8

HASTINGS COURT

(Before Messrs. A. Rosenberg and F. J. Hull J.’s P.) TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. George William Robson and Ernest Maurice Smith were each charged with, on March 10, at Port Ahuriri, stealing a coil of wire rope valued at £l5 9/6, the property of Richardson and Co. Robson was further charged with, on March 10, stealing a' coil of wire valued at £2, the property of some person unknown. Pleas of guilty were entered in nil charges.

Serg. G. R. Doggett said that the accused were together at Port Ahuriri looking for work. Shortly after the coil of rope was missed. Smith was seen carrying a coil, and the accused hailed a lorry, which took them to Stortford Lodge, where they altered the appearance of the coil. Later Rohson disposed of it at Wairoa for £2 14. Smith did not receive any of the proceeds. Later Robson look'Hie second coil from near the Municipal Theatre and sold it to a Mr Fraser.

The accused Smith had been admitted to a term of three years’ probation in 1925 for receiving stolen goods. Nothing previously was known against Robson, who had come from Petone and had been hard-pressed on account of being unable to secure work. He was a young married man. The Rev. R. B. Waugh said he had known the accused Robson and had formed a high opinion of him. He had been terribly hard up against things, and week alter week had had to return to his wife without anything for the home. He had been greatly worried, and in the tune of stress he had given way to the temptation. He had been making a brave fight to win through, and if given a chance he would endeavour to make full amends. The bench decided to admit each of the accused to probation for a period of six months.