THEFTS ADMITTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22018, 26 January 1935, Page 17

THEFTS ADMITTED

YOUNG SALESMAN'S LAPSE tjV «:7" ---SSf INHERITANCE DISSIPATED "SPENT £3BOO IN A YEAR" "It would appear that this man is like Sam Weller: he has been ruined by being left money," said Mr. Noble in the Police Court yesterday, in defending a radio salesman, Ronald Keir Duncan, aged 28, who appeared on charges of theft and false pretences. Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., presided. Accused pleaded guilty to stealing two radio sets in Wellington; to stealing at Auckland clothing and a key, of a total value of £l2 los; and to obtaining by false pretences at Auckland two electric fans, of a total value of £ll 0s 2d.

Senior-Detective Hall, who prosecuted, said accused's hon)e was in Wellington. While there ne had obtained two. radio sets and sold them to dealers. On coming to Auckland ho had stolen clothiug, which he had sold to obtain money. Going to a city stationery firm he had secured two "please supply" order forms, which he said he desired as samples, and with these had obtained two electric fans. These he had also sold to a dealer. All the stolen property had been recovered with the exception of one suit. Continuing, Mr. Hall said accused came from a good family and had received a sound education. Some time ago he had inherited £3BOO, but within ]2 months he had spent it. He had been ordered to leave home by his mother, who, on returning from town one afternoon, had found her son in the,act of removing the sewing machine to sell. Counsel said accused's head had been turned by money. It would appear that drink was also a predominating element in his downfall, upsetting his mental balance and sense of proportion. , I , . , . "He has not been able to go straight with his money, and he does not seem ab'o to go straight when he is without it," said the magistrate, referring to accused. / Accused was ordered to be detained for a period of two years for reformative treatment on one of the charges relating to the theft of a radio set in Wellington. On the remaining charges he was convicted without penalty.