A CRAZE FOR LEAD

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 5

A CRAZE FOR LEAD

In the City Police Court last week James Meek, aged 23 years, was charged with the following thefts:—(l) Lead piping, valued at £2 ss. the property of Duncan M'Millan; (2) lead piping and fittings (£3), the property of Archibald Aitchison Bcnnic; (3) lead piping and fittings (£2), the property of George Mitchell; (4) lead piping and fittings (£3), the property of Henry Beckingsale; (5) lead piping (£2), the property of Fredk. Calvert; (6) one icad flushing pipe (£1), the property of Herbert Bennett; (7) two lead flushing pipes (£3), the property of Orr Campbell; (8) lead piping and fittings (355), the property of the Salvation Army; (9) lead piping and fittings (£2 ss), the property of Margaret Wynne; (10) lead piping and fittings (£2), the property of Thomas Cornforth Harrison; (11) lead piping and fittings (£2 10s), the property of William John O'Kane; (12) lead) piping and fittings (£2 10s), the property of John Junor. The thefts were alleged to have taken place on various dates between November 19 and 29. Mr Hanlon, who appeared for the accused, pleaded "Guilty" on his behalf, and asked that the case be dealt with summarily. Chief Detective Bishop said the accused had called at the houses of the peoplenamed in tho charge—chiefly at the North End, — and simply removed the lead flush pipes in the water closets. Ho had been seen at work in some instances, but in the case of tenants they presumably thought that alterations were being carried out by tho landlord. Accused had been charged with breaking and entering at Wellington in breaking and entering at Wellington in 1910, under the name of Thomas Burns, and had been admitted to probation for 12 months. Mr Hanlon said tho accused was married abouli seven _ months ago. Ho had been called on for milita.ry service, and was prepared to go int> camp. Accused's father had promised to pay_ the cost of replacing all the pipes, amounting to £3O 4s od. His Worship said that, under ordinary fiircum stances, ho would probably havo ordered a course of reformatory treatment, but that, under tho special circumstances, he thought it would bo in tho best interests of tho Stato and accused himself if ho wore allowed to enlist and got away with tho

troops. Accused would bo ordered to come up for sentence on each charge when called upon, on condition that £3O 4s 8d was paid forthwith to the police, and that he went away with the troops and was of good behaviour.