PLUNDERING A PARTNER.

NZ Truth, Issue 215, 7 August 1909, Page 6

PLUNDERING A PARTNER.

Shield's Silliness.

A young man named James Shield was charged m Christchurch recently with making an ass of hamself and with entering upon the rugged path that leads to destruction. He collared i 3 8s 7 d worth of goods belonging to his partner, and .wisely pleaded guilty. As ne was obviously not a person of the criminal class, Beak Bailey remanded him to enable the polsce to make enquiries and per-^ mit of evidence being called m his own favor. He appeared later before Magis- ■ trate Haselden, when , that judicial person said he didn't feel inclined to send Shield to gaol. Lawyer (Jassidy produced a sheaf c". testimonials giving the accused a good character, but Sub-In-spector McGrath had a .type-written letter received by • the police, and reflecting on the character of Shield, who belonged to Dunedin. He didn't desire it to be made public, but handed it to the Solicitor and the S.IVL. Mr Cassidy said he had reason to believe that some of the articles mentioned m the charge actually belonged to ! Shield and not to his partner. The S.M. said that didn't aSect the case if THE ACCUSbi. 1 PLEADED GUILTY to stealing the others. William Shield, an old resident oi Otago, appeared m Court and said he had come up from Dunedin to take charge of the boy, who was his son. The Magistrate said that although he wouldn't send the accused to gaol he would punish him m another and more effective way by imposing a fine,' and Shield would have to work to pay the fine outside of gaol. He didn't wish to say anything to the young man m public, but: the father had a duty to perform m giving the son wholesome advice and warning. The father intimated that he would advance the money until young Shield was able to earn it. Fined £5 or one month.