AFTER TWO YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 15

AFTER TWO YEARS.

_—, ■■ MAN ARRESTED FOR THEFT. ACCUSED ADMITS OFFENCE. Arrested after a lapse of exactly two years, John Francis Schdroski pleaded gitilty in the Police Court yesterday to stealing on July 8, 1924, three watches, one watch chain, a compass pendant, and money, of a total vaius of £2O 8s 4d, the property of France A. G. Anderson. Evidence was given by Anderson that in 1924 he was employed as a milkman on a farm at Mount Roskill. Accused was also employed on the farm as a milkman until July 3, 1924. Witness occupied a room'alone in a hut on the farm and accused and another milkman occupied a cottage on the farm. "On July 8, 1924, witness left his hut to milk at 4 a.m., leaving two watches attached to a chain in the pocket of his vest, which was hanging on the wall. Another watch was hanging on a nail and in a locked tin t,runk there was a sum of money. Witness returned to the hut' at 8 p.m. on the same day, when the watches and the money were missing. The tin trunk had been opened with a tin-opener. Detective Nalder said lie went to the farm to make inquiries on July 9, 1924. Accused was located on July 9, 1926, and was arrested He mncie a statement admitting the offence. The watch produced was found in iiis possession when arrested. .In his statement accused said he left the farm without giving notice to his employer. He returned "a- few days later when he knew the employees would be milking. The door of Anderson's hut was open and he went in. He knew that Anderson always kept a quantity of money in the trunk. Several weeks later lie went to Napier, where he sold one watch and the chain. Another watch came to pieces after a time a:id he threw it away. Ho spent the money. ■ Accused pleaded guilty, hut elected to be dealt with by the Supreme' Court, lie was committed to the Supreme Court for •entrance., r