THEFT OF WATCH

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16201, 26 November 1926, Page 12

THEFT OF WATCH

TWELVE MONTHS' PROBATION The theft of £2 3s and a watch valued.at £f> from a companion with whom he was drinking led to the appearance of Richard John Ferris at the Gisborne Magistrate's Court this morning. After hearing the facts Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., convicted accused and placed him on probation for 12 months. Detective McLeod said that accused had been about town for a week. Accused said that he was drunk and remembered nothing about it. He would have to plead guilty. He elected to be dealt with summarily, and the magistrate said he would enter a plea of not guilty. Detective McLeod said that two law clerks had seen the accused take the money and the watch.

Peter McDouough said that yesterday he was drinking beer on the river bank with some companions. The last he could remember was drinking there, and he thought he had spent about £3 10s before he got too bad to remember at all. Accused to witness: Didn't you take me into the hotel and have four drinks with me? —Yes. Accused: That bottled beer sent mc off the same as it sent you off, I suppose. (Laughter). Richard Edward Gambrill said he had seen accused and McDouough in a vacant section behind Nolan and Sheet's offices yesterday. He sawaccused put his hand inside McDouough's coat and pull out a watch and some money.

Accused: Was I under the influence of liquor.'—l thought you were for a start, but not later. Jack Haisman, another law clerk in Nolan and Sheet's office, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness.

Detective McLeod stated that accused was not sufficiently drurik to have been arrested. Last night accused had said the money did not belong to him. Accused said he had ibeen drunk, lie had been looking for work for some time.

The magistrate put accused on«probation for 12 months, and warned him thi.t he would get a sharp sentence if he appeared in court again.