THEFT REPENTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25660, 7 October 1944, Page 9

THEFT REPENTED

LARGE SUM RETURNED INTACT The theft of a large sum of money, consisting mainly of employees’ wages, from the office of Newsomes, Ltd., bakers, Wanganui, on the night of September 4 had its sequel a few days ago when a young apprentice baker, Berwick James McCoy, aged 19, employed by the firm for nearly four years, appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M. The accused admitted breaking and entering the firm’s countinghouse and stealing £202 7s lid, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wanganui for sentence on November 6. Bail was renewed in his own recognisance of £IOO, with one surety for that amount. An application for suppression of the name was refused. William Herbert Newsome, manager, said that wages were made up on Mondays and paid out the following day. but in the meantime were locked up in the strongroom overnight. The theft was discovered early on the morning of September 5, and on the evening of September 21 the accused called at witness’s home and voluntarily admitted that he had broken into the office. The accused handed witness two canvas bags containing the money, saying tha* he did not know why he had committed the theft, and that he had not spent any of the proceeds. Witness accepted that assurance. Cross-examined by Mr Willis, witness said the accused was a good worker and industrious. Witness had continued to employ him and was prepared to keep him on. He was genuinely repentant.