CAULIFLOWERS STOLEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21579, 25 August 1933, Page 14

CAULIFLOWERS STOLEN

THEFT FROM MARKET GARDEN FINE OF £ls ON CHINESE A Chinese market gardener, Jueing Hing, aged 50, was charged in the Police Court yesterday with three counts of stealing cauliflowers of a total value of £2 14s 4d. He pleaded guilty. Detective-Sergeant O'Sullivan said that for some considerable time cauliflowers had been stolen from a certain market garden in Panmure. At an early hour on tho morning of August 10, Constable Wilson, who was keeping a watch in the garden, detected accused in the act of cutting cauliflowers. When accosted, the Chinese struggled violently and attempted to use his knife on the constable. Eventually, however, tho constable succeeded in handcuffing accused. It was estimated that the owner of the garden had lost more than £IOO worth of vegetables. Accused had sold a quantity of cauliflowers at tho city markets and ho had caused a great deal of trouble to other Chinese in Panmure. It was contended by Mr. Dyson, who appeared for accused, that complainant's losses were very much .exaggerated. Accused certainly had not sold anything liko £IOO worth of cauliflowers, and ho was very emphatic that ho had stolen no vegetables other than those concerned in the charges. Ho was only in a small way of business and had fivo children dependent on him in China. He had no relatives here and was an "outsider" among the Chinese community. This was the first time he had been charged with dishonesty. Regarding the alleged attempted use of the knife on the constable, Mr. Dyson said tho facts wero not as serious as they appeared. Accused was taken unawares when the constable jumped on his back and he became frightened. Ho did not intend to do harm with the knife. Tho magistrate, Mr. W. R. McKean: Ho is not charged with that. The magistrate imposed a fine of £5 on each of tho three charges, and ordered the payment of restitution, witness' expenses, 16s, and interpreter's fee, £1 Is. Default on each charge was fixed at six weeks' imprisonment, the terms to he cumulative. An extended time in which to pay tho fines was refused.