THEFT OF CLOTH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22963, 15 February 1938, Page 16

THEFT OF CLOTH

OFFENCE BY CUTTER COURT GRANTS PROBATION Charged with stealing cloth valued at £5 12s 6d, between August 20 and September 8, and a pair of tailor's shears, on, September 9, the property of the Farmers' Trading Company, Limited, Thomas Richard Clifford Porter, cutter, aged 24 (Mr. Goldstine) pleaded guilty when he appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that accused had been employed by the firm as a cutter for just over a month. "In the old style well-known to pillagers, he wrapped the cloth round his body to get it out of the building," said Mr. McHugh, "as the firm keeps a close eye on parcels going out." Accused had never been in any trouble before, and could not say why he had taken the cloth, except that he had yielded to a sudden temptation. He had used the shears to cut out clothes. He was a married man, but lived apart from his wife. Mr. Goldstine said that accused had been married only ten months, and had parted from his wife because they had had a tiff. Accused's parents were very respectable people, but as they were both invalids he contributed to their upkeep. "Theft as a servant is considered much more serious than theft from strangers," said the magistrate, admitting the accused to probation for 12 months, and ordering him to make restitution as directed by the probation officer.