IMMIGRANT IN TROUBLE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20021, 11 February 1927, Page 10

IMMIGRANT IN TROUBLE.

EX-PUBLIC SCHOOLBOY THEFT OF CLOTHING AND MONEY. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. Brought to New Zealand under the Public Schools Immigration Scheme Cecil John Edmonds, aged 20, came near to disaster. Edmonds appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning, and pleaded guilty to a charge of the theft of clothing and money at Waikouaiti, the property of Matthew George Young and another, to the total value of £l4 13s. Mi Lascollos appeared for Edmonds. Chief Detective Dewis said that accused had been going about without money and work, and when he arrived at Waikouaiti he met Young and a man named Clark, who were staying at a boarding house there. They suggested that he should stay the week-end' at the boardinghouse, and he agreed. When he was leaving he offered the landlady 10s. remarking that it was the only money he had, but she told him to keep it. “Edmonds then went into the township,” said the Chief Detective," and bought some clothes and a railway ticket. While his friends were at work Edmonds returned to their room at the boardinghouse and helped himself to their effects and money.”

A story of the young man’s trying experiences ini New Zealand was told by Mr Dascelles. “Accused came out to New Zealand under the Public Schools Emigration scheme and was in England a pupil at the famous Bluecoat School,” he said, “Arriving in the Dominion, he obtained work installing milking machines, and while engaged in this work he had the misfortune to suffer an accident in which three ribs were broken. On his recovery Edmonds had to relinquish his former work and accept a lighter job, taking up spring cleaning with a street travelling machine. This was not very remunerative, and he once more found himself out of employment. He made his way to the Exhibition at Dunedin, and there obtained work in the side-shows. After the Exhibition he was again thrown out of employment, and failed to secure any work whatever. So bad was his plight that he was forced to rely on the charity of_ people, and he was properly nn against it. ’ The Magistrate; For such a mean theft you arc entitled to be sent to gaol. I think it would do you good and teach you the lesson that you cannot do these things in this country.

Major Barnes, of the Salvation Army, put in a plea for aroused, suggesting to the Magistrate that it would not be altogether advisable to send the young_ man to gaol. The Army would take him in hand. “T am going to give you a chance,” said the Magistrate. “You will be convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within the next six months. Yon are to remain in the care of the Salvation Army for three months, and refund the £l4 13s within six months,”