SHOPLIFTER FINED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22907, 15 June 1936, Page 7

SHOPLIFTER FINED

DRINK THE CAUSE OF TROUBLE In the City Police Court on Saturday jnorning, before Mr W. H. Bundle, S.M., Alexander Mawhinney pleaded guilty to two charges of theft from a city store, the value of the stolen articles being 7s and £1 fa 5d respectively.—Mr E. J. Anderson represented the accused. Outlining the charges, Chief Detective Young stated that on Friday evening the accused had been detected in the act of stealing goods from a stand in a shop in Princes street. A subsequent search of his house revealed a quantity of articles which he admitted having stolen during the previous six weeks. He was muddled with drink when arrested, and it was evident from the nature of the goods found in his home that ho had been under the influence of liquor when he stole them. Mr Anderson said that the accused's lapse was a regrettable one. He had gone on a drinking bout on Friday afternoon, and had'become'so muddled that on the following morning he had no recollection of what had happened. He had hitherto borne an unblemished character, but since losing his wife some time ago he had taken to drink. Counsel asked tho court to extend such leniency as was possible, and to prohibit publication of the name.

The magistrate took into consideration the fact that the accused was drunk when he committed the offences, and on the charge of stealing articles valued at fl 5s stl fined him £3, in default seven days' imprisonment. The other charge was withdrawn. In the circumstances, said his Worship, he did not feel justified in suppressing the name.