MONEY WITHOUT WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 17

MONEY WITHOUT WORK.

'•NOVEL DISHONEST METHOD."

CARPENTER PAWNS TOOLS

REMANDED IN CUSTODY. Described by the magistrate as a person who had discovered a new and rather novel dishonest method of obtaining money without working for it, Albert Wilfred Small, aged 34, carpenter, appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with the theft of carpenters' tools, valued at £44. A plea of not guilty was entered. Chief-Detective Hammond said accused had resided in New Lynn with his wife for some time, lie was a returned soldier, in receipt of a pension. The local storekeeper with whom accused dealt was Mr. G. K. Gilliam. Accused had gone to Mr. Gilliam with "a hard-luck story," telling him that if he had tools he would be able to get carpentry work. Mr. Gilliam generously gave accused authority to get £8 worth of tools in his name, but after accused secured them he pawned them. Then he went to Mr. Gilliam again with another tale, and this time Mr. Gilliam told him to get some more tools at a city firm. Small got about £4O worth of tools in Mr. Gilliam's name, and disposed of some of these also. The Magistrate: Well, that is a new way of getting money for nothing. For accused, Mr. Clarke said he admitted the facts and did not intend to defend the action of his client, but he was intent on defending him on the charge of theft. If accused were convicted of theft counsel feared accused's pension would cease, and there would be no hope of Mr. Gilliam securing restitution. Small had been promised work when he first went to Mr. Gilliam, but when he was ready to start lie found no work for him. Driven by necessity he had pawned some of the tools. Counsel described the lapse as the culmination of war injuries and worry because he had been out of work. "It was a novel way of getting money, though," said the magistrate. To enable inquiries to be made concerning accused's pension, the magistrate remanded Small. "If T can deal with him without causing the loss of his pension I shall do so," added the magistrate. "But I do not want hint to think he can steal in this sort of fashion and just walk in and out of the Court after it."

Counsel assured the magistrate that accused appreciated his position, and that he was pleading not guilty in order to endeavour to avoid conviction for theft. Accused was remanded to appear in a week. In the meantime, he will remain in custody, an application for bail being refused.