GAOL FOR CYCLE THIEF

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4401, 6 October 1934, Page 3

GAOL FOR CYCLE THIEF

At the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., James Wilton Chambers, a 24-year-old butcher, of Palmerston North, appeared-on ten charges of stealing cycles. Mr T. F. Relling appeared for Chambers, who pleaded guilty to all charges, elected to be dealt with summarily. Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse said accused must have formed a comprehensive plan for taking the cycles. He was married, rvith trvo children, and had been in a steady job, earning good money, until recently. He had declared that the thefts were undertaken to help his wife and children. He stole the machines, and in practically every case sold them the same day, each time giving a receipt, always with a different name. One machine was soldi at Shannon the day it was ' taken, and others Avere sold at Foxton, Woodville, Ashhurst, Dannevirke, and Havelock North. There was no doubt he made a regular trade of it. “I realise there is not a great

deal to be said for accused,” acN , mitted Mr Relling, but added that he had given all possible infonnation concerning the thefts, and said it was incorrect to say he was earning a regular wage when .the first thefts were committed. He kept a little money not belonging to him, was admitted to probation, and. then lost his job. His furniture was sold up, and only when he became' destitute did! he take to stealing cycles. “His wife and children will suffer. I cannot ask for probation for* accused,” he concluded. , Mr. Stout: You certainly would not if you saw his list of eight previous ~ convictions. Some of these, it was explained;, were for taking cycles. “The best thing I can do for you is to sentence you to two months’ imprisonment on each charge, the terms to be cumulative,” said the Magistrate. “Some of the people you stole from were as hard up as • yourself. Some of them may have been unemployed. A cycle is the means of transport for the wageearners,' and you had no right to deprive them of it.”