MUSICIAN IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20668, 13 September 1930, Page 15

MUSICIAN IN COURT.

FOUR CHARGES OF THEFT.

SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

Ari American organist, Gunnar Paulsen, aged 28 (Mr. Singer), pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday to four charges of theft and was sentenced to six months' imprisonment by tho magistrate, Mr. F. lv. Hunt. .The accused was charged with stealing from a city theatre a quantity of crockery and cutlery, three silver salad bowls and one door lock, of a total value of £5, and one electric motor horn valued at £1 10s. He was also charged with stealing two registered letters containing £3 15s. Chief-Detcctivo Hammond said that at the timo of tho offences tho accused was employed as an assistant musician and mechanic at a theatre. The motor horn in question was removed from tho theatre organ and sold to a second-hand dealer, while tho crockery and other articles were tak«n from a restaurant attached to tho theatre, and were later found at the accused's home.

Referring to the other charges the chief detective stated that Paulsen signed for two registered letters addressed to his landlady, and appropriated the contents. He was alone in the house at tho timo and said ho had left tho letters on tho hallstand Tho accused was before tho Court Inst month on a charge of stealing a typewriter and was dealt with very leniently.

Mr Singer, who appeared for tho accused, said ho could not understand the man's conduct. Paulsen said that ho wished to put a " better and brighter note " into tho organ and had taken the horn out to effect tho change.

The magistrate sentenced the accused to six months' imprisonment and directed that tho stolen property bo returned to tho owners.