THEFT OF A CAMERA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16946, 30 January 1926, Page 14

THEFT OF A CAMERA.

HE YENTEENTH CON VIGTION. ACCUSED GIVEN PROBATION. The theft of a camera valued at £.15, the property of D. C. Clarke, resulted in the appearance of John Gaunt, alias Langlcv, before Air. E. C. Lcvvcy, S.M., at the Gisborne Magistrate’s Court this morning. Air. S. \\ Bcaufoy appeared for the accused, .who pleaded guilty i;tid elected to be .dealt with summarily. Detective McLeod stated that on New Year’s Day Mr. Clarke had gono to the office of the Do Luxe Motor Service Company to book a passage to Napier. When leaving lie left a suitcase and a camera behind him. The accused was sitting in the office at the time, and when the attendant’s back was turned he went away with the camera. Subsequently lie offered the camera to a second-hand dealer, who refused to take it. Since then it had been impossible to trace the camera. The accused had sixteen previous convictions, eight of which were for dishonesty, but lie had not been before the Court during the past three years. Mr. Beaufoy said the accused had suffered from a serious accident bci'ore leaving the Old Country, and had 27 stitches in his head. As a result of this he was unable to stand. drink, and this was the cause of all his troubles. Li regard to the present case lie had come to Gisborne and had no recollection of what occurred. He. had worlc to go to in the country, and if given a chance would endeavor to make good. The Magistrate said the accused was running a grave risk with suck a record, but lie would give him a chance, lie would be admitted to probation for two years, a condition being that he take out a prohibition order against himself, and pay £ls, the value of the camera, and Ss. expenses.