A WATCH IN PAWN

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8652, 10 February 1914, Page 8

A WATCH IN PAWN

WELLINGTON JEWELLER’S OFFENCE

PLEDGES-CLIENT’S PROPERTY.

A plumber named John Henry Thompson has had a great deal of trouble about bis watch. Some months ago ho took it to Judah Barsht, a jeweller, then in Willis street, to be repaired, and he was told it would cost him 7s 6d or 8s 6d. Thompson called the following Saturday for his watch. It was not finished; would he call again? He did—many times, until in September last, he grew so tired of calling and demanding the watch from Barsht that he went to the police about it. The sequel was the appearance of Barsht in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning on a charge of having stolen the watch, which was valued at £3. Barsht * a, little man with a big nose, and theie is no mistaking his nationality. The. police story was to the effect that accused had pawned the watch to Jane Griffiths, a licensed secondhand dealer, for 6s. Detective Cameron said that dexendant had told him that ho had pledged the watch. At the same time, defendant said; “I’ve a number of watches under repair from people named Thompson.” , ~ Giving evidence on h:s own behait, Barsht said he had been drinking and he pawned the wrong watch. Ho was not a bad character, ho said. Chief-Detective Broberg: .“There ha® been trouble with a number of other watches le-ft with you, hasn’t there? Accused; “Some of them are locked up in Mr Brown’s shop.” The Chief-Detective: “Why don’t vou go and get them?” Accused: “I don’t want to get killed.” • The Magistrate: “What makes you say that?”

Accused: “I was in business with Brown and a certain thing happened.” Accused indicated that there had been some trouble about a secondhand dealer’s license.

The Magistrate said he could not accept the theory that a mistake had been made. It was a clear case of theft. He was loath to send the man to gaol, but accused must understand that such an offence-should not be repeated.

Accused was fined £2 and ordered to pay the expenses of the case, in default fourteen days’ imprisonment. He was allowed forty-eight hours to find the money.