THEFT OF SHIRTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 60

THEFT OF SHIRTS.

A PENITENT TRIO. CHRISTCHURCH. March 4. ■ Dressed in of that peculiar American cut which clings tightly to the waist, three young men were jointly charged nt the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., to-day with the theft of 11 shirts. James Tinker, aged 27 years. George Pearce, aged 25 years, and William Smith, aged 27 years, were all ship’s firemen, pleaded-' guilty to having on March 3 stolen 11 shirts to the total value of £5 10s. the property of Lida Fredo. Chief Detective Lewis said that the three men were members of the crew of the Hororata. They stole the shirts from the Excelsior Hotel,, and were arrested on the Christchurch railway station. “’Their ship leaves to-inorrow,” he said. “Possibly this is a trick to get away from the ship.” Mr Mosley: If I order them to be put on the vessel at Lyttelton they may desert at Port Chalmers and give the police more trouble. “Did you sign on for the round trip?” asked Mr Mosley of the accused. “Yes,” chorused the trio. Chief Detective Lewis said that the goods were taken from Frodo’s effects. “Can I say a few words on behalf of my chums?” asked Tinker. The Magistrate: Yes, you can. “Will you treat us with leniency t tbis time, sir?” he asked. “We will most certainly behave ourselves in the future. “What do you call leniency?” asked the magistrate. ‘‘Twelve months?” Broad smiles were registered, on the faces of the three men in the dock. “Two of us are married,” said Tinker, “and if we have got to do time our allotments will be stopped, and we will get ‘pinched’ again when we get back to London.” Mr Mosley ordered each man to pay a fine of 20s, in default seven days’ imprisonment. “We will pay the fine, sir,” said the three in unison as they left the dock.