SERIES OF THEFTS

Southland Times, Issue 21896, 23 December 1932, Page 5

SERIES OF THEFTS

TWO MEN CHARGED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 22. Peter Walker, aged 31, and Alfred Cook, aged 21, who committed a series of robberies at Miramar between June 16 and December pleaded guilty before Mr Page, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court to a series of theft charges. Detective-Sergeant Revell said inquiries made by Detectives Kane and McPhee led to the arrest of the two accused. There were five charges of theft involving £lO 3/- against Cook alone. Cook was further charged jointly with Walker with eight charges of theft and one charge of committing mischief. The total amount involved in all the charges was £47 11/2. A certain amount of stolen property had been recovered but £23 10/- had still to be accounted for. The father of the younger of the two accused said his son had been out of work for eighteen months or two years. Witness had sent him to a camp near Rotorua, but owing to a previous illness the boy had to leave as he could not stand the cold. He had not been able to get work in Wellington, but an old friend had offered to give him employment on a goldmining claim in Southland.

The Magistrate admitted Cook to probation for three years and ordered him to make restitution at a rate to be fixed by the Probation Officer. Accused Walker was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment.