CHARGE OF ROBBING AN EMPLOYER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 60

CHARGE OF ROBBING AN EMPLOYER.

At the City Police Court, on Friday, before! Mr C .C. Graham, S.H.

Ernest David Hood Sime was charged with! stealing on the 13th inst., from Herbert, Haynes, and Co., three bottles of scent, valued at 7s 6d ; on the 12tli inst. another three bottles of scent, valued at 7s 6d ; and between January ancl June 225 pairs of hose, 37£ dozen pearl buttons, three rolls of ribbon, 18 pairs gloves, and eight pairs of underpants, of the total value of £38 ' 2s. Mr Solomon appeared for accused. The first two charges, which come tinder the Summary Jurisdiction Act, were first considered. Sub-inspectcr Kiely said that the facts of the cases were that on the 13th inst. Constabu Rawle and an assistant of the complainant's firm secreted themselves in the cellar of the premises to watch for a- suspected thief. This action was in consequence of the fact that ther*. were grounds for suspicion that systematic robberies of stock were being made. As they watched they saw accused come down into th« cellar and taks the bottles of scent. The accused afterwards admitted stealing the scent, and also confessed that he made thefts which ■ foimed part of another charge. Mr Salomon said it was his sad duty to have : to admit the facts as stated by the police. It was a very chocking thing that the accused, ; who was a mere iad — the son of highly respectable people — and in no .need of money whatever, , should have given way to temptation as he hacl done. The charge came as a- thunderclap to his parents and friends, and was to them nothing short of a calamity. It was always a matter of the greatest difficulty to know how to deal with such cases as this. Counsel recognised that it was very necessary that employers should be protected, and he was quits aware how rife this class of offence ■was; indeed, it was only the previous day that he had been engaged in a case of the same sort. On. the other hand, it wanted no words of his to point out that the accused was in a position in which his life for the future might be made or marred. Mr Solomon suggested that as there was another charge pending which must go before the Supreme Court, his Worship should call upon the accused to come up for sentence when called upon, so as to allow the whole matter to be dealt with by the judge His Worship adopted this course. The graver charge was then taken. Sub-inspector Kiely stated that on the 13th of this month the accused was arrested, and he admitted having stolen large quantities of goods, and having disposed of them to Chinamen in tho Royal Arcade. Plain-clothes Constable Rawle went with the accused and another employee of the firm to the Arcade, and there managed to recover a large portion of the stolen goods. One of the Chinamen said accused had given his name as Crawford, and had said that he -was commissioned .to sell the goods by one of the warehouses in town.

Evidence was given by DanielHaynes, W. A Patillb (in charge of the hosiery department at complainant'-s warehouse), Chee Young, an»l Lee Fun (Chinamen trading' " in" the Eoyai . Arcade), and Plain-clothes Constable Eawle. Mr 'Solonion offered no remarks, and accused " elected to plead guilty. Accused was remanded to the -Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed — accused in £100, and s surety of £ 100 or two of JESO.