A Booze Theft

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 8

A Booze Theft

After stealing an overcoat valued at' £5 from the Hamilton Post Office, a youth named Hilton Stanley went straight away to a pawnshop and disposed of it for 10s. When later brought before the Court to answer a charge of theft, Senior-Sergeant Sweeney said that accused was possessed of money when he stole the coat. He had been a member of the post office staff. Accused told the Bench that he had no recollection of! taking the garment, although he remembered disposing of it to the pawnbroker on finding it m his possession. He had been drinking and depressed through being out of work, and had come down from Auckland to look for a job. [ The Bench decided to give the young fellow a chance by placing him m probation for a couple ,of years. Kg was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, and the coat was ordered to be returned to the owner.