A DESPICABLE THEFT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19068, 14 January 1924, Page 9

A DESPICABLE THEFT.

GOING THROUGH BATHERS’

CLOTHES

YOUTH PLEADS GUILTY.

Sidney Havelock Green, aged 19 years, pleaded guilty in the City Police Court on Saturday morning to stealing 12s trom the clothing of batners in the Municipal Baths.

Detective Beer, who prosecuted, said that petty thefts had been going on at the baths for seme time past. Mr Olds, the custodian, had suspected Green, and had taxed him with having committed one particular theft. Accused had denied this, but had admitted stealing 12s from other persons whom ho did not know. The accused's surroundings had not been of the best, and he had undertaken, if given a chance, to go to Central Otago. Detective Beer suggested that the case could be one for probation. Mr F. G. Gumming (probation officer) agreed with this, and said that tire Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society would see that the youtii was given facilities for going away. The Magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle. S.M.). addressing the accused, said that he had pleaded guilty to a most despicable theft. A youth who carried on sneak thieving of that, nature usually went from bad to worse. Furthermore, one of the worst features of that kind of theft was that the blame very often fell on some, innocent person. He would take into consideration the fact that the accused’s environment had not been of the hist. Accused would he placed on probation for t ,T .'o years and would he under the control of the probation officer. The 12s would have to be refunded by wnv of a fine.