THEFTS FROM SHOP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22497, 14 August 1936, Page 16

THEFTS FROM SHOP

RECEIVER IMPRISONED COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE "1 am quite satisfied that this man has been systematically receiving stolen property and trading in it," said Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S.M., when convicting Arthur Ernest Tapp, billiard-marker, aged 44 (Mr. Hall Skelton), in the Police Court yesterday, on two charges of receiving clothing valued at £47 5s 4d from John Burns, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Evidence was given that Burns had been employed by Alfred Bevcge, Limited, and had been committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on two charges of theft of goods worth £217. The goods mentioned in the present charges had been found in accused's room.

After cross-examining Burns, Mr. Skelton read a statement made by accused in which he said Burns had told him he could get goods cheaply. Last October accused bought some clothes at the full price, Inter he bought some at a little below the real value, and the last lot he knew to have been dishonestly obtained. Mr. Skelton submitted that accused had been straight in the beginning, but had drifted. He was willing to take his share of the responsibility.

Senior-Peteetivo Hall said the only two previous convictions against ncensed were for breaches of the Gamine Apt.

The two men seemed to have been acting; in eoneert in robbing: the firm of :i larg:e quantity of clothing;, said the magistrate. 'I lie evidence led him to believe that it all passed into the possession of accused and that he made away with most of it. Accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment