THEFT BY LABOURER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 22

THEFT BY LABOURER

GOODS TAKEN FROM WHARF ADMITTED TO PROBATION 1 " Although, this removal .of cargo from the wharf is "serious, I must take into consideration the fact that accused is getting on in years and bears an otherwise unblemished character," said Mr. C, R. Orr Walker, S;M., in the Police Court yesterday, when John Hardgreaves, wharf labourer, aged 57, was charged with stealing t\yo tins of tomato juice, one tin of fruit salad aud a broom, of a total value of 6s 3d, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company. Accused, who was " represented by Mr. Bvyce Hart, pleaded guilty.- ■ !i . Sub-Inspector ~ Fox stated • that shortly before, 10 o'clock on Thursday night a constable saw atfoused carrying a brief bag from the wharf. Stolen goods ;■ were found in the bag, and accused admitted ' having taken, j them from a shecL oh Prince'# Wharf.«He had £2O in his possession at the time, and there was no sign that he was pressed for money. He had been a member of the waterside workers' union for the past 26 years and recently his weekly earnings had averaged from' £6 to £7. Mr. Hart sai<| accused was not a criminal and had never been in trouble before. A case of cargo had been broken while 'it was being unloaded and it was easy to pick up some of tins tins. Accused was admitted to probation for one year.