THEFT FROM LAUNCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22866, 22 October 1937, Page 14

THEFT FROM LAUNCH

MAN FINED AT WHANGAREI OWNER TO BE REIMBURSED [by telegraph—own correspondent] WHANGAREI. Thursday Two charges of theft of various brass fittings of a launch, the property of Edward Peterson, oi? a total value_ oi £l4. and one charge of receiving similar material, valued at £l3, also the property of Edward Peterson, were brought against Thomas Caldwell at tne Police Court before Mr. •). u. Hewitt, S.M. Detective J. B. Finlay said that ivhen Mr, Peterson visited his launch, which was on the slip, lie found that the material had been'removed, and investigations showed that Caldwell had sold it to a second-hand dealer for 10s 2d. When questioned he said he had found the material badly damaged in a sack near the waterfront. After hearing defendant, Mr. Hewitt said the story did not appeal to him and defendant had a previous conviction. On condition that £lO in reimbursement for the damage was paid by defendant to Mr. Peterson, the magistrate fixed the fine at £••s and costs. £2 15s Sd, on one charge, and convicted and discharged defendant on the Other. The charge of receiving was dismissed. Defendant paid the £lO into Court, and the magistrate allowed him one month in which to pay the fine and costs.