THEFT AT ESPLANADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 94, 21 March 1939, Page 3

THEFT AT ESPLANADE.

ACCUSED'S NAME SUPPRESSED. Twenty-nine years old, a labourer, married, with two children, appeared before Mr H. P. La wry, S.M.. in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston .North, yesterday, charged with the theft of a wristlet watch, valued at 18s, the property of Elizabeth Warner. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejohn stated that two girls bad gone for a swim at tiie Esplanade and when one Jater returned for the watch, she found it missing and their clothes disturbed. Meanwhile a young man had almost stumbled over accused lying flat in the grass, and, being suspicious of his action, had subsequently seen him remove the watch from the clothes. A search party was organised and accused was apprehended. He denied taking the watch, and refused, to be searched, but later handed it over saying lie was sorry, and tried to get away. Brought before the girls, ho asked them to let him off. There bad been numerous complaints of thelts from bathers’ clothes at the .Esplanade, and it was a class of offence most difficult to detect.

Air L. Laurensou, appearing for ar eased, said it had been a foolish and clumsy theft. Accused was drunk at tlie time, having gone on a “spree” after failure to effect a reconciliation w ith his wife, front whom he "its separated. It was his first offence, and counsel suggested that lie he extended probation, on condition that lie took out a prohibition order, as lie seemed to take to drink at any mental upset. Counsel also suggested that accused's name lie suppressed. Mr Meiklejohn stated that when brought to tlie police station accused had no appearance of being under the influence of liquor hut, on tlie afternoon of the first day he was charged in Court and admitted to bail, accused was seen very much under the inllu erne of liquor. Mr Laurensou said he could produce evidence that accused was drunk at ;) p.m on tht: day ol the offence. He was arrested at o p.m. Mr Meiklejohn : Then he must have made a quick recovery. “This is a class of offence for which as a rule 1 do not show leniency, it being so contemptible and difficult to detect,” said tlie Magistrate, but. His Worship added, he would admit accused to probation for two years conditional on his taking out a prohibition order for that period. Accused s name was suppressed.