A DANGER!

NZ Truth, Issue 217, 21 August 1909, Page 10

A DANGER!

Leslie Locked Up.

Robert Leslie, a massive-looking mid-dle-aged man, is on the downward path, m the opinion of Magistrate Hasciden, of Christchurch. Disguised m beer, he stealthily approached*, a bike that was holding up the 'front of Bellevue boarding house, Gloucester-street, and seizing it without damage to the building, wheeled it dawn the street, and offered it to two men for the small, consideration of. ten bob. He was hard up owing to the financial stringency, he explained, and was letting the machine gb at a sacrifice. He nearly suffocated his hearers with bear fumes whilst pouring this confidence into their cars, and they became .Suspicious. Looking up a copper they had Leslie arrested, and the thief denied all knowledge of the transaction. Later, however, he pleaded guilty before Beak Has-' eld'en, explaining .that he. had been . out on the drunk and the bike incident was mesely ■ a drunken freak. He was a laborer, and actually had a ticket for Broken River. Avorks." Sub-Inspector McGrath mentioned that Leslie had . ■ SERVED A SENTENCE FOX INDECENCY, and there were several minor convictions. The Sub. added that considerable annoyance had been occasioned m the city, not only by the theft of bikes, but by the fact "that they were removed and used, and were then thrown aside. It vras when the S.M. examined Leslie's record that he remarked to him. "You are on the downward path." His Worship, mentioned that; accused" had finished serving his sentence two years ago. The. Sub. understood that since then Leslie had been sentenced* to twelve manths' imprisonment m Dunedin for a similar offence. "Do you athnit that ?" he asked. "Yes," replied Leslie. His Worship, sternly and impressively, to Leslie, "You are a danger ! You are sentenced to three months' imprisonment, with hard Vibor." ;:, ■ ' : : "