Youth Faces Four Charges of Theft

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 213, 6 September 1934, Page 3

Youth Faces Four Charges of Theft

REMANDED UNTIL SATURDAY Fred Davis, alias Bertrum Anderson, a youth, appeared beforo Air. .1. L. Stout, S.M., in tho Afagistrate’s Court at Palmerston North yesterday to face four charges of theft. Ho was charged with (1) tho theft on August 27 of a bicycle, valued at £5, tho property of William George Herron; (2) stealing a bicycle, on August 11 last, valued at £2 10s, the property of soruo person unknown; (3) on or about August 9, stealing a bottle-jack, valued at £6, tho property of tho N.Z. Government Railways; and (4) the theft of 17 brass cups, two knobs, four fittings and a piece of copper-piping, of a total value of £5, also railway property. Accused, who was represented by Air. T. F. Rolling, pleaded guilty at the outset to the first two charges and not guilty to tbo remainder. Senior-Sergeant Whitchouse (for the police): But ho has made a statement admitting that ho is guilty of all! He is the eldest of four boys who aro concerned with the thefts. They look the brass cups from an engine in tho railway yards. After further discussion the police intimated that they ivero prepared to withdraw tho charge in respect to the bottle-jack. It had been taken and left in the grass but when tho youths returned it could not be found. They apparently did not consider that it had been stolen. At this stage accused withdrew the plea of not guilty to stealing tho fittings, etc., referred to in tho fourth charge and pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Whitehouse explained that accused camo from a respectable family at Lower Hutt. Constable Arnold, at Palmerston North, had had the youth under observation for somo time on. account of tho way the accused had been going about the district. Air. Stout, at this juncture, suggested that accused be remanded until Saturday to allow tho probation officer to furnish a report, this course being adopted.