THEFT OF AN OVERCOAT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11307, 5 September 1922, Page 4

THEFT OF AN OVERCOAT

ACCUSED’S BAD MEMORY. A middle-aged man named Willie Wilson appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, on a charge of stealing an overcoat, valued at £6, the property of Edwin George Snell.. Chief-Detective Kemp said that in June last the accused had been, sentenced to three months’ imprisonment on four charges of false pretences. He therefore, stDl had one month-to serve. Defendant and the complainant had been patients together in the Trentham Hospital. The accused had stolen Snell’s overcoat, but could not remember what he had done with it. This offence had been committed prior to his being sentenced on the false pretences chargee. Mr J. O'Donovan, who represented Wilson, said that on the date in question accused had gone on the “drunk” and stolen the overeoat, hut did not know what he had done with it. In view of the facts that Wilson was already serving a sentence and that he was willing to refund the price of the overcoat, counsel asked that no further penalty he imposed.' Accused was accordingly convicted' and discharged, provided that the value qf the coat, £6, is made good.