THEFT OF BUTTER

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 6 May 1921, Page 8

THEFT OF BUTTER

MAGISTRATE'S DECISION

Leo Matthew Rogers, aged 23, and Eric Dadwell Rogers, aged 21, who had pleaded guilty, to charges of theft of butter from the Meremere Dairy Company's factory at Ohangai, came before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday" for sentence. The accused had been remanded for the probation officer's report and y for a statement showing the amount-'of loss suffered by the Dairy Company. In the charge against Eric, the younger brother, the Magistrate said there were two charges of stealing gutter against him. It seemed that he had merely assisted his brother by conveying the butter to Hawera, as he received none of the proceeds. Accused would-be convicted and discharged. The case of Leo was different. He was: in a position of trust and had committed a breach of that trust. He had occupied tbe position of butter-maker at the factory and had -failed to give a faithful account of th.c butter made. The accused was very young, and it was very hard to understand what motive he had for stealing. He was unfortunate in having found a fr.end who assisted him by. providing a means /or disposing of the butter, and if one man had not given information the thefts would still be going on. It' was difficult to know exactly how to deal with such a case. He did not like to send a young man, to gaol. This would not have a goody. influence on accused, though ft might act as a deterrent to others. With the exception of the present offences the accused appeared to have been a decent young fellow, ; and he would put him. on probation fcr 18 months. The conditions would include the payment to the Dairy Company, of £38 ss, the value, as near a£ he could discover, of the butter taken, and that he would report to the probation officer once a fortnight. The money must be refunded within 14 days and if this or any other condition*of probation was broken tHe accused would be liable to be brought up and dealt with, not only for a breach of probatlZ\ ,Ut On -he charges of .theft for wni£h he could be sentenced to a term or imprisonment