OFFENDER GIVEN CHANCE

Northern Advocate, 16 February 1938, Page 7

OFFENDER GIVEN CHANCE

“You have had a good job, and have been very foolish,” said Mr G. N. Morris, S.M., at the Whangarei Police Court today, addressing a young man who admitted stealing a carburettor and a generator from his employers. An order for suppression of the name was made.

Detective G. S. Miller said that accused resided with his parents, who were of good repute. He not previously been in trouble, and for the past two and a quarter years had been apprenticed to a Whangarei firm of motor dealers. During the absence of his employers at lunch, he had removed a carburettor and a generator from a truck belonging to the firm, and had assembled them in an old model car, which his family and himself had recently acquired. When he ascertained that the firm was making inquiries about the missing parts, he returned the generator, but did not mention the carburettor, until he dismantled it in front of the police. “It is a case of familiarity breeding contempt,” said Mr. R. K. Trimmer, who, in view of the fact that accused Only 17 when the offence was committed, applied for suppression of the name, '

Granting this, and adjourning the. case lor six months, the Magistrate said that accused had only just passed the juvenile age. “I have given you a chance,” he said, speaking to the youth, “and if you come back here it will be very serious for you.”