£45 STOLEN

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32536, 14 February 1945, Page 5

£45 STOLEN

TAKEN FROM HOTEL

“SUDDEN TEMPTATION ”

TURUA YOUTH BEFORE COURT

The theft of £45 in money and a leather wallet valued at £l. from the secretary of the Auckland Watersiders’ Band cricket team, which recently visited Thames, was admitted by Clive Walter Allen, aged 28, farm worker, of Turua, in the Thames Magistrate’s Court before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M.

Constable A. Gray said after the report of the theft he went to the home of accused and interviewed him. Accused said he had been on a drinking bout and showed where the money was to be found. Accused made a statement, in which he said he went to an hotel, where he had tea and several drinks. He took the wallet from a coat.

Mr C. H. Poulgrain, for accused, made a plea that he be placed on probation. Accused had succumbed to sudden temptation and there was. nothing premeditated in the offence, as the wallet fell out of a coat pocket and accused picked' it up. The next day accused realised the gravity of the offence and assisted the police to clear it up. He had been in the cells for nine days, had made full restitution, and his services were needed on the farm.

The magistrate placed accused On probation for six months and ordered him to take out a prohibition order for 12 months.