THEFT OF GRAMOPHONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20570, 22 May 1930, Page 14

THEFT OF GRAMOPHONE.

SIX MONTHS IN PRISON

MACHINE SOLD TO DEALER.

Sentence of six months' imprisonment was. passed on John Thomas Brown, alias Butler, aged 25, labourer, who appeared in tho Police Court yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on a charge of stealing a, portable gramophone and two records valued at £l4 Bs. Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon on a second charge of iqpmmitting a breach of his probation.

Mr. Smyth, who represented accused, said the breach of the probation order would bo admitted. Accused had recently served a month in gaol, and he thought he need not report after his release. A plea of not guilty was entered on the other chargo.

Nancy Spain,.a shop assistant employed by Conrad Benzley, tho owner of the gramophone,| said the machine'was left on a chair near the piano at Mr. Beazley's residence. Witness went out for about a quarter of nn hour, and when she returned tho gramophone was missing. Victor Moller, dealer, said the inachino was brought to him by a man who said he was going to sea. • Witness paid £5 by cheque for the machine. He thought accused was the man, although he had failed to identify him at a previous identification pairade.

LeonardMcConnell, shop assistant, said he cashed a cheque for £5 for accused. 1 he cheque was niado out by Moller. Mr. Smyth said accused denied stealing the machine, but said he had cashed the cheque.for a man named Priestley. .Accused ! was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.