THEFT AND RECEIVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23110, 9 February 1937, Page 6

THEFT AND RECEIVING

GYMNASIUM PROPRIETOR CHARGED A VERDICT OF GUILTY (Per United Press Association* NAPIER, Feb. 8. A verdict of guilty on both counts was returned in the Supreme Court at Napier this afternoon against Frederick William Morley, gymnasium proprietor, of Hastings, who pleaded not guilty before Mr Justice Ostler to a charge of the theft of a suitcase and a quantity of clothing from a car at Hastings, the property of Mrs Minama Chambers, of New Plymouth, and another charge of receiving a gold watch valued at £3O, and a shirt, both the property of Bernard Chambers, Havelock North, knowing the same to have been stolen property. The accused was remanded for sentence. For the defence, Mr W. Selwyn Averill urged that the suitcase of clothing was left in Morley’s gymnasium by an unknown person who broke in one night. It was revealed in evidence that Morley gave the contents of the suitcase to his wife. Regarding the gold watch, the police submitted that Morley received this from a criminal with 44 convictions. Evidence was given that the watch was taken to a jeweller after the initials had been scraped off the back, and the case was sold for £3 2s 6d. The works were later found in the possession of a jeweller's apprentice. Mr Averill submitted that Morley was unaware that he was receiving stolen property when ho was given the watch.