COURT NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1940, Page 3

COURT NEWS

CHRISTCHURCH CASES (Per Press Association— Copyright). CHRISTCHURCH, December H). Pleading guilty to a charge of stealing a quantity of clothing Irom the factory in which was was employdo, a youth aged I'f was convicted and fined £2, and ordered to make restitution of £1 8s 4d. Detective-Si rgeant A. Herron said that the theft had taken place dining a period of several mouths. Ihe youth had admitted the thefts, and the stolen articles had been recovered after a search of his home. “I ‘hardly know what to do with vou,” said the Magistrate. * T don t think you aie a criminal, hut you are old enough to realise the qci'/pusness of what you have (lone. These are particularly mean thefts, and you have thrown suspicion on your fellowworkers.'’ In convicting the youth, the* Magistrate said tie would take .his youth into account. He ordered accused’s name to .he suppressed. Henry llerr, a farm labourer, aged 23, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing £3 in money on ’December <; and the contents of a money box. 5s 3d on December 12, both amounts being the property of Albert 'William Pel worthy. Accused was convicted and ordered to appear for sentence within 12 months if called upon; and to make restitution of the money. A boy, who admitted issuing a valueless cheque with intent to defraud. was placed under the supervision of the Child "Welfare Officer for 18 months. Detective-Sergeant A. Hennon said that the hoy ,had taken a cheque from his father’s cheque- book,- and made it out in a false name for the amount of £23 10s. He had then presented the cheque at a city shop in payment for a bicycle, arul had received a cheque for £lO as change. This he cashed elsewhere, and had given £3 to a friend. Restitution of £7 9s 9d was required. “I don’t know whether you read the papers or not, hut if you do you will have seep that judges throughout New’ Zealand have been commenting, and rightly commenting on the serious amount of crime being committed by children, 1 ’! said the Magistrate. “You are one of them, and by this act you have brought yourself within (the i shadow of thewalls of a gaol.” - y It was a carefully planned and deliberate act, continued the Magistrate, telling the youth that if he .pad been a man lie would have been liable to a term of imprisonment -of as much as seven years. The boy’s father said that he would make restitution. i Two .Norwegian seamen. Sven Nil--1 sen, aged 26, and Ole William Euro. I aged 28, pleaded not guilty to charge? | of deserting their ship, and state/! I that they had caught the wrpng j train. I Sergeant .1, Crowley said that-they had been found at Soutlibridge on I Friday, and arrested. [ The Magistrate remanded both mm I lii /appear at the ship’s next porl of call on Deember 16. '