THEFT AT WHANGAREI

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1934, Page 6

THEFT AT WHANGAREI

! EINGS, WATCH AND PUESE. EOSSITER FOUND GUILTY. (Special to "Northern Advocate.") ■ AUCKLAND, This Day. Laurence Eossiter, aged 20, a seaman, denied a charge of stealing seven rings, a gold watch and a purse,'of a total value of £75-2/6, in the Supremo Court yesterday. Mr Justice Fair presided and accused was not represented by counsel. In outlining the case for the Crown, Mr Hubble said the alleged theft was committed at Whangarei on or about July 0. Accused found a purse containing seven rings and a watch, find it was suggested that he deliberately refrained from taking steps to have the lost property restored to the owner. Mrs Nora Mary Benjamin, of Wha; ngarei, said that on July 5 or 0 she .lost her purse and jewellery. She notified the police and advertised her loss in a newspaper. As a result of a message she went to a jewellery shop in Whangarei on July 14 and was shown a ring which she identified as one of those she had lost. Accused, who was also in the shop, was taken to the P9lice station and was found to be in possession of five rings lost by witness. The other missing property was later recovered oy the police. Joseph Shucksmith, jeweller, Whangarei, said that on July 13 he purchased a ring from accused for £7. .Accused, who used the name of Evison, stated the ring belonged to his mother, who was now dead, and ho had use for it. Another jeweller, • Eastwood Hall Palmer, said that on

July J 4 accused showed him a ring which ho wanted to sell. By a mark on the ring witness recognised it as having come from his shop .before he acquired the business from Mr A.ML Benjamin. Witness communicated with Mrs Benjamin, who claimed the ring as her property. E. A, H. Simmons and R. P. Fisher, both jewellers of Whangarei, said ac-> cased unsuccessfully tried to dispose of rings to them. Peuior-Scrgcant Finch .said that on the evening of July .14 accused voluntarily showed him where he had thrown the purse which, had contained the lost jewellery. In a written statement produced by Constable Harrington, accused said he was an unemployed seaman and that when he found the purse and contents he tried to sell the rings, as he did not see any advertisement in the local newspaper. Addressing the jury from the dock, accused said he did not think the retention of lost property amounted to theft. After a brief retirement the jury returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy. His Honour reserved decision, pending a report from the probation officer.