TEMPTATION TO STEAL.

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

TEMPTATION TO STEAL.

A SERIES OF MISFORTUNES. ENGLISH YOUTH CONVICTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday. Charged with stealing a wallet conaing £43. a youth, aged 20, pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day. Accused told a story of his misfortune since his arrival in the Dominion 15 months ago. He had bee i in hospital for three months arid again became ill after his discharge. He had been out of work and could not resist the temptation of taking the money. Chief-Detective T. Gibson stated that accused had come from England under the public schoolboys system. He had been .staying at a house, where he stole the money from, a fellow boarder. He had spent £23, but the remainder had been recovered. Mr. Cuningham (for accused) said accused had had a series of misfortunes. He had only, been out here a short time when he was kicked by a horse and this necessitated a stay* in hospital for three months. During that time he had contracted debts amounting to £33. The pressure of those debts was so great that he had taken the wallet. Accused said his fathe: had recently died bankrupt so he sen* £l2O, which had been given to him on his departure from England, to his mothe- This had left him destitute. He had beer out of work, and the temptation had been too great. His former employer was willing to take him into his home until something could be done for hirr.. Accused said he had written for assist-' unce and had received £ls. He again became ih, but had managed to pay his way. Onilns recovery, however, he had been unabb to obtain work. He was admitted to probation for a term of 12 months. The magistrate said accused had every chance of making good. People were taking an interest in him and under , the circumstances his name would be suppressed- V