GROCER'S THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 17

GROCER'S THEFTS

BAGS 'OF POTATOES

SHOP MANAGER'S OFFENCES

MAGISTRATE IMPOSES FINE

" Employment over a period of five . years in a place called Self-Help seems to have had some influence on him," said Mr. W. R. MeKean, S.M., when .William Maskell, aged 57, manager of a Self-Help store, appeared in the Police Court yesterday charged with the theft of six bags of potatoes, valued at £1 10s, from Wong Sic \ue, on February 0, and one bag valued at 5s 7d on April 12. Detective-Sergeant Walsh said accused was the,manager of the Self-Help store in Karangahape Road. The complainant was a Chinese greengrocer, whose premises adjoined those of the 1 Self-Help store. For some time past he had been missing potatoes and onions from his shop. 'A watch was kept, and on- April 12 an employee saw accused taking a bag of potatoes from the back of the shop. When interviewed by a defective. accused admitted the theft, and said that about February 0 he had stolen at least six bags of potatoes. He denied baying stolen the onions, but in his stiiteVnent said he was prepared to pay for three cases of onions. Nothing was previously known against him, and this was his first appearance in Court. Mr. Dickson, who appeared for accused, said he had been manager of the grocery business for five years and had never been before the Court before. He was a man of exemplary character. "He does not know why he did this," added counsel. " The potatoes were taken into the shop and the results of 'the sale went to his employers. He did not gain one penny of profit out of what he did." " If this man took these potatoes and sold them for the benefit of his employers it would be difficult to check an assertion of that kind," said the magistrate. " It seems an extraordinary state of affairs." Accused was fined £1 on the charge of stealing the six bags of potatoes, and convicted and discharged on the second charge. He was ordered to make restitution.