IMMIGRANT IN TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3805, 15 February 1927, Page 14

IMMIGRANT IN TROUBLE.

THEFT OF CLOTHING AND MONEY, CHRISTCHURCH, February 10. Brought to New. Zealand under tho Public Schools Immigration Scheme Cecil' John Edmonds, aged 20, came near to disaster. Edmonds appeared before Mr,, E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning, and; pleaded guilty to a charge of the theft ’ of clothing and money at Waikouaiti, tho. property of Matthew George Young and: another, to the total value of £l4 13s. Mr Lascelles appeared for Edmonds. Chief Detective Lewis said that accused, had been going about without money arid. work, and when he arrived at Waikouaiti’ he met Young and a man named Clark," who were staying at a boarding house there. They suggested that he should stay tho week-end at the boardinghouse, and he agreed. When he was leaving ne offered the landlady 10s, remarking that it was the only money he bad, but she told him' to keep it. “Edmonds then went into tho township,” said the Chief Detective,”, and bought some clothes and a railway ticket. While his friends were at work Edmonds, returned to their room at the hoardinghouse and helped himself to their effects and money.” A story of the young man’s trying experiences in New Zealand was told by Mr Lascelles. “Accused came out to New Zealand under the Public Schools Emigration scheme and was in England a pupil at the famous Bluccoat School,” ho said. “Arriving in the Dominion, he obtained work installing milking machines, and while engaged in this work he had the misfortune to suffer an accident in which three ribs were broken. On his recovery Edmonds had to relinquish his former work and accept a lighter job, taking up spring cleaning with a street travelling machine. This w-as not very remunerative, and he once more found himself out of employment. He made his way to the Exhibition at Dunedin, and there obtained, work lin the side-shows. After the Exhibition he I was again thrown out of employment, and failed to secure any work whatever. So bad was his plight that he was forced to rely on the charity of people, and he was properly up against it.” The Magistrate: For such a mean theft you are entitled to be sent to gaol. I think it would do you good and teach yoit I the lesson that you cannot do these things I ""Major Barnes, of the tsaivation .•rrmy,put in a plea for accused, suggesting to the Magistrate that it would not be altoI gether advisable to send the young, man to I > T aol. The Army would take him in hand. I ° "I am going to give you a chance,” said the Magistrate. “You will be coni I victed and ordercd_ to come up for sentence if called upon within, the next six! months. Yon are to remain m the care of the Salvation Army for three months, and refund the £l4 13s within six months. ’