STOLEN GOODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16041, 6 October 1915, Page 5

STOLEN GOODS.

DEALER CONVICTED.

SENTENCE OF SIX. MONTHS.

NOTICE OF APPEAL GIVEN.

JtrDGMEXT was given by Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M., yesterday, in the case in a second-hand .dealer, named rnomaa Francis Houlihan, was charged on 10 counts with receiving goods knowing them to have been stolen. The magistrate said the evidence in the cases had been rather conflicting, s and Sfn- «? had a « ht di fficultv in separating the cases and their respective circumU££?i. ui .i h, 5 ? ind He *** that * second-hand dealer was more likely to nave stolen goods foisted on to him than any other member of the community, and that the rule of law making the posses- ?««.«?♦£ St °l en Property evidence against the accused was somewhat weakened when the accused person was a second-hand dealer. Practically all the men giving evidence in the cases had been convicted of theft, though before the offences connected with the goods mentioned in the present case, only one had been convicted. In some cases, continued the magistrate the prices paid for the goods were very low while in others they were not so Some of the goods were new. Mr. Frazer said he had given the case a great deal of thought, and had gone over the evidence carefully, and had read all the law available on the subject. So far ftJr ,5*,. two . char 8 e s were concerned they would be dismissed. The magistrate was satisfied that in connection with three of the charges the accused had not acted honestly: The evidence showed that he actually knew the goods were dishonestly obtained, and the accused must therefore, be convicted. In fixing the penalty on a first offending thief, the magistrate was inclined to be lenient, but a receiver of stolen property could not expect to be dealt with leniently. He was largely responsible for seven men being convicted of theft, and he was deserving of much more serious punishment. The accused would be sentenced to six months' imprisonment on each of three charges, the sentences to be concurrent.

On behalf of the accused, Mr. Hall Skelton gave notice of appeal, and asked the magistrate to fix the costs and bail. The security for appeal was fixed at £500 including estimated costs.