“AN ABSOLUTE WASTER”

Southland Times, Issue 20014, 30 October 1926, Page 5

“AN ABSOLUTE WASTER”

McKeever gets three months. THEFT AT BLUFF. “His ‘long suit’ is going to hotels and ' taking money from men who are not sober, i He’s an absolute waster and it is impos- • sible to say a good word for him.” i In these words Sergeant Hewitt summed lup Arthur McKeever, alias Anderson, who : was charged at the Magistrate’s Court yesi terday morning before Mr G. Cruickshank, j S.M., with stealing the sum of £2 from ' Samuel Luke, at Bluff, on October 25. | Accused was unrepresented by counsel I and pleaded not guilty. I Sergeant Hewitt said that on Labour Day J the police received information that a man I answering McKeever’s description,* had ! stolen £2 from a man in an hotel in Bluff. Along with Constable Dowling the Sergeant met the 6 o’clock train from Bluff that evening and apprehended McKeever when he alighted. When questioned McKeever denied stealing any money and told the Sergeant he could have any money found on his person. Accused was searched and two pound notes were found secreted in his underclothing. Samuel Luke gave evidence that on October 25 he had two drinks in the Bay | View Hotel. He took £2 from his pocket’ 1 to buy some liquor, when the accused came • to him, snatched the notes from his hand 1 and hurriedly departed. Witness followed j out to the door but accused had disappeared. ,He reported the matter to the police. Witness was sober at the time and was certain that accused stole the notes. To Accused: Witness replied he had had three drinks at the most that afternoon. Constable Dowling bore out the Sergeant’s statement as to finding the notes on the accused. In making a statement accused denied the charge. He said he was in the hotel about 5.30 p.m. when Luke, who was sitting down, asked him to get four bottles of beer and a bottle of whisky for him, and gave him a£l note to pay for it. He purchased the liquor and returned the change to Luke. He had money of his own and did not secrete the two notes in his clothes. He was not sober when he returned to Invercargill and aid not know he had two notes left. He said he was a married man with three children, and he pleaded with the Magistrate that should he convict him, to be lenient and to grant probation. Sergeant Hewitt: McKeever was released from gaol only two weeks ago. He was imprisoned for not supporting his wife and family. The accused again pleaded for probation and suggested a long term and to make it strict. “Drink’s my trouble,” he admitted. “I’m willing to take out a prohibition order.” After considering the matter with the Probation Officer, his Worship said accused’s record was a bad one and the Probation Officer was not prepared to take the risk of looking after him. Despite further pleading, accused was convicted and sentenced to 3 months’ imprisonment in Paparua Gaol.