CITY POLICE COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 2

CITY POLICE COURT.

Monday, October 10. (Before Mr J. R, Bartholomew, S.M.) CHARGE OF RECEIVING. William Michael Whitty appeared on remand on a charge of receiving 111 b of hare skins valued at £4 4s 4d, the property of the New Zealand Shipping Company, knowing them to have bean dishonestly obtained. Mr C. J. L. White appeared for the accused. Chief Detective Cameron stated that the shipping company regarded the matter very seriously.—Mr White said the defendant was 48 years of age. He was a married man with four children. For many years he had been a Government servant, and during that period he had borne an excellent character. For some time he had been employed on the waterfront. He had been in ill-health, suffering many attacks of rheumatij fever. This had led to financial difficulties. Counsel considered that the accused Lad succumbed to a sudden temptation. It was an isolated case, and he did not think the man should be regarded as a criminal.—Several references were handed to the magistrate, and Mr White called James John Marlow, who testified to the accused’s previous good character. —The magistrate said that in view of the excellent testimonials which had been provided by responsible persons and the highly satisfactory report of the probation officer he did not think that it was a case for imprisonment. He would therefore place Whitty on probation for one year.