About a Bicycle

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 5

About a Bicycle

ACCUSED ACQUITTED.

(From "Truth's" Chrlstchurch Rep.) . William G. Hutchison, a Christchurch business man who was charged a few weeks ago wl<,h theft of a lady's bicycle valued at £3, and who pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried by a jury, came before His Honor Mr Justice Adams at the Supreme Court this week. ; The Crown evidence showed that Hutchison, In a statement to the police concerning another person's bicycle found m his possession, said it belonged to -his typist. The typist, however, told the police that she never had a bicycle. The defence was that Hutchison took the bicycle from his place of business foelievinfir it to bo the . property «f someone on the premises, and he hml foolishly made use of it and had neglected, to. bring it back. His Honor, summing up. Raid thnt no matter how foolish Hutchison h:nl been, the jury should acquit him if satisfied that he did not intend feloniously to take the bicycle, which, w.-in worth about fifty shillings, nnd pc>" manently convert it to his own mso. After ten minutes the jury re tunu-.l with a. verdict of not guilty.