INSTALMENTS STOLEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22643, 3 February 1937, Page 17

INSTALMENTS STOLEN

RADIO WORKER'S OFFENCE ; APPEAL TO MAGISTRATE "Even at this late stage, although you have previously had probation and reformative detention, while you are now serving a sentence of imprisonment, further probation is worth consideration, as it is much to be desired rather than to make a criminal of you," said Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, when Ronald Duncan, labourer and radio engineer, aged 30, appealed to him for a last chance to make good after admitting two charges of theft •involving £7. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said accused had been staying at Matamata in December and obtained the use of a shed from Mr. Arnold Donovan, radio agent, to effect radio repairs. On December 21 and 22 accused called on two persons who were behind with instalments on sets sold by Mr. Donovan and obtained sums of £2 and £5, for which he fraudulently omitted to account. There was no doubt he immediately spent the money on drink, Mr. McHugh added. Accused had previously been beforo the Court and at present was serving a month's imprisonment for ialse pretences, which offences were committed at the same time as those with which he was now charged. "I would like another chance to make a decent job of my life, with which I have made a bad start," said accused. "I have seen among men in prison what will become of me if I drink and continue as I. have been living." In remanding accused until to-day to permit inquiries to be made by the probation officer, the magistrate said ne had dealt with cases of this sort where the delinquents had made good when afforded another chance on probation.