RUNNING SHOES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22388, 7 April 1936, Page 12

RUNNING SHOES

THEFT BY YOUNG MAN COMMENT FROM THE BENCH [by telegram—OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Monday "'There is no need to steal running shoes now as there are plenty of them about the country," said Mr. H. C. Hemphill, J.P., amid laughter, in the course of a hearing in the Whangarei Police Court to-d«y, when a pair of running shoes %vere quoted among articles alleged to have been stolen by an accused. Associated with Mr. Hemphill on the Bench was Mr. A. Curtis, J.P. The case was one in which James Davidson Ireland was charged with stealing, aft Maungatapere, from the dwelling of J. H. Morrison, a cheque for £1 10s; with stealing, at Kiripaka, from the dwelling of C. J. Finlayson, a wallet containing £7; and with stealing, also at Kiripaka, a pair of running shoes valued at 10s, the property of Piri Henry Kake. J. H. Morrison said accused was employed on a neighbouring farm. Witness placed the cheque for £1 10s in his room and went to Tangiteroria, leaving the house unoccupied. Later he found tho cheque had disappeared. Eva Grantham, shop assistant, of Whangarei, said a young man presented the cheque, which she cashed. She could not. identify accused as the man. Constable H. J. Harrington said he interviewed accused, who gave a statement admitting the theft. Witness produced a statement. C. J. Finlayson said accused had recently been in his employ. He left on March 30. That evening witness discovered that his wallet, containing £7, was missing from his bedroom. Constable Harrington produced a statement in which, it was alleged, accused admitted the theft. Asked if ho had anything to say, accused said the wallet had contained only £5. Accused pleaded guilty to both indictable charges and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence. He also pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing the running shoes. Detective P. J. Nalder said accused intended to compete at tho Easter sports at Maungatapere. On the last charge accused was convicted and fined £l, in default seven days' imprisonment.