THEFT OF BICYCLES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27384, 9 May 1950, Page 4

THEFT OF BICYCLES

Young Man Before Court LARGE SUM DISSIPATED The story of how a 22-year-old labourer had spent "£2OO in Dunedin in one month on drink and gambling was told to Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The defendant, whose name was suppressed, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing two bicycles of a total value of £25. He was admitted to probat on for two years, with special conditions. Chief Detective Hall said that the defendant had arrived in Dunedin early in April and had spent £2OO from his bank account. During that time he had not worked and had become short of money. He had stolen two bicycles and sold them to second-hand dealers. The chief detective said the defendant had been go ng to tire races and generally leading a fast life. When asked how he had spent so much money, the defendant said that he had bought “ a wee bit of drink." Mr Willis: You think £2OO spent on drink is a “ wee bit? " The probation officer. Mr E. F. Mosley, told the magistrate that the defendant had not gone further than Standard II at school, but was a good worker when kept under supervision. He asked for suppression of the young man’s name. Mr Willis admitted the defendant to probation for two years on condition that he took out a prohibition order, worked as directed by the probation officer, and had his, wages administered by the officer. Ship Desertion Edward Whitehead, a fireman, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour for deserting from the liner Athenic at Lyttelton. Whitehead told the magistrate that he had been in the army during most of the war and had joined the merchant navy when he was demobilised. He’ had" been unable to settle down at sea and wanted to live in Dunedin. Obscene Language Agnes Campbell, a domestic, aged 36, was fined £3 for using obscene language. Gaming House Charge Ned La Hood (Mr W. McAlevey) was fined 30s for being found in a common gaming house. Mr McAlevey said that the defendant had gone there to find his brother and had stayed to watch one of the games in progress. While he was there the police had raided the house and he had been arrested. Chimney Fire Janet Valmai Simpson Sims was fined £1 with costs (10s) for allowing a chimney to go on fire. Dogs in St. Kilda Eight residents of St. Kilda who were charged with allowing their dogs to be at larg* were each fined 10s with costs (10s) and solictor’s fee (10s 6d). They were Lancelot John Ballard, David Bell, Frank Robertson Cherry, Andrew Sutherland Jack, Herbert McKenzie Johnston, Arthur Gordon McDougall, Francis Martha Swete and Thomas Park Wilson. Wilson was also fined 10s with costs (10s) for keeping an unregistered dog. Similarly charged, Robert: Bevan Dodds was fined 10s with costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee, 10s 6d. Lionel Close Torrance, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of allowing his dog to stray, was ordered to pay costs (10s). For keeping an unregistered dog he was fined 10s with costs (10s) and solicitor’s fee (10s 6d).