DISHONEST BIRD OF PASSAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 April 1945, Page 4

DISHONEST BIRD OF PASSAGE

FLIGHT TO CEASE FOR TWELVE MONTHS

A man who was described as a bird of passage was sentenced in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to a total of 12 months’ imprisonment for thefts. Accused, who was represented by Mr K. E. Knapp, pleaded guilty to the following charges: Being found drunkstealing a suitcase and contents valued at £32 3s 6d, the properly of H. C. Fletcher: stealing an attache case and contents valued at £1 10s, the property of H. S. Manning; stealing a brief bag and contents, the property of Dr. W. D. S. Johnston; stealing a handbag and contents, valued at 15s, the property of Gwendoline Musgrove; stealing a handbag and contents valued at £1 7s 6d, and £1 15s in money, the property of Patricia Best. Evidence as to recovering some of the stolen goods from the accused's room was given by Decretive W. B. Parish. Detective-Sergeant F. Hayhurst said that accused was a bird of passage and had a list of previous convictions. Counsel said that there was no question but that drink was the trouble. Accused was going to a job in Kaikoura but missed the car and started on a drinking bout, with the resulting offences. Every time he went on drinking bouts he got into trouble. For three months previously he had not touched drink. On the first charge accused was convicted and discharged: on the second charge, sentenced to six months’ imprisonment: on the third charge, three months’ imprisonment, to be concurrent; i fourth charge, six months’ imprison- ; ment, cumulative on the other sen- j lences: fifth charge, convicted and dis- j charged; sixth charge, three months’ imprisonment, to be concurrent. 1