A YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16590, 13 January 1916, Page 3

A YOUNG MAN'S LAPSE

THEFT OF A SUIT. At tho City Police Court yesterday, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., a young man named William Byrne, was charged on remand that on or about August 15, 1913, at OliriiTtchurch, ho did steal a suit of clothes of the total value of £3 10s, tile property of George Allan. Deteotivo Sergeant lvemp prosecuted, and Mr Irwin appeared for tho accused. Mr Irwin said that it had been the intention of tho accused to plead guilty, but as the offence was committed two yoars ago, it would have to go before a higher court. George W T flliam Allan, salesman at tho D.1.C., gavo evidence to tho effect that in 1913 ho was in Christchurch and was staying at tho Bellvuo Private Hotel. Tho accused was working about there. Witness lost a suit of clothes, valued at 70s, and had not seen it since. Tho suit, produoed was his property. It was in August or September that tho clothes disappeared. Detoctivo Hammerly gave evidence as to having interviewed tho accused at tlio Provincial Hotel on the morning of January 4. Tho accused admitted having stolon the suit of clothes, and produoed tliom from a box in his room. This ooncluded the evidence. Mr Irwin, who appeared for the accused, said he had been in tho dominion six years, and for the past two yoars ho had been in a position of trust in Dunedin, and his employer was so satisfied with his conduct that when the accused was . arrested he immediately bailed him out and wished that he should remain in his employment. The theft seemed to bo an isolated act on the part of the accused, committed when ho was hard up in order to have a respectable appcarance when scoking employment. I-Ie had been a porter at the Provincial Hotel for the past two years When charged with the theft he had made a clean breast of the offonoe. The accused, in answer to the usual charge, pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Cburt for sentence. Mr Irwin, in asking for bail, said this was a onse in which, had it not to go before the Supremo Court, he would have been justified in asking that tho accused bo admitted to probation. The accused's employer was anxious that ho should be allowed to continue in his position. . The Magistrate considfrcd the application reasonable in tho circumstances, and fixed bail as before, accused in his own recognisance of £50 and ono surety of £50.