DRESSING-SHED THEFTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20293, 28 June 1929, Page 14

DRESSING-SHED THEFTS.

FOOTBALL PLAYERS ROBBED.

OFFENDER SENT TO GAOL. The theft of articles of clothing from the dressing sheds at the grandstand in Victoria Park on June 18 resulted in the appearance in the Police Court yesterday of William Andrew Somerville, who denied having stolen a hat, valued at 15s, a cigarette case, valued at 17s 6d, and an overcoat and handkerchief, valued at £9 15s, the property of different members of a football team which was practising on the ground. The charge, of stealing the overcoat was. not proceeded with, accused being dealt with summarily on the other charges. Evidence was given by three members of tho club that they had left their clothing in a dressing room after they had changed for training, and on their return found tho articles mentioned in the charges to . bo missing. Constable Yeoman, of Freeman's Bay, stated that when he interviewed Somerville he found him in bed. Beside him was the cigarette case, while the hat was hanging in tho room. Accused stated that he had bought .the hat, while ho had also bought the cigarette case from a seaman some months ago. At first accused denied that he had been at tho park, but later admitted that he had. Mr. Noble, who appeared for accused, stated that he had been training for football on the park, and when he returned he .had found that another hat had been placed on his clothes, his own hat being missing. Ho had bought the cigarette case from a man on tho steamer Kaitoke last November. The handkerchief ho had been given. Tho Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: Is that all? Well, 1 don't believe it.

Glancing through accused's list, Mr. Hunt remarked that accused had 22 convictions, most of those .being for theft. "Ho was last, here in February of this year, and was let off lightly and given a chance,!' concluded the magistrate. The accused was sent to gaol for six months.