NINE CHARGES

Southland Times, Issue 25314, 18 June 1935, Page 8

NINE CHARGES

'SERIES OF THEFTS POST OFFICE ROBBERY YOUNG MAN SENTENCED (Per United Press Association.) Hamilton, June 17. Nine charges of theft, including one concerning a crime committed at the Hamilton East Post Office on Wednesday last, were preferred against Cyril Ernest Bates, /aged 19, alias Ernest Brown,-before Mr S. L. Patterson* S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton this afternoon. Bates was charged on three counts with stealing sums aggregating £lO 7/- and a bicycle at Christchurch, stealing £lO 14/9 at Wellington, stealing £6 4/lli at Rotorua and Hamilton. The charges, all of which were committed on June 12, were the theft of a cashbox containing 15/-, theft of £5 8/7 from the Hamilton East Post Office, and the theft of sweets valued at 3/6. All the offences were committed since April 29. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Detective-Sergeant J. Thompson said that the total amount of money stolen by accused was £33, of which £l5 had been recovered, together with a bicycle, cashbox and tin of sweets. On the day before committing the theft from the Hamilton East Post Office, Bates entered the office and sent a 'bogus telegram with the object of taking stock of the surroundings. “I have seen a good deal of him since he has been with the police here and he does not appear to be quite normal,” DetectiveSergeant Thompson informed the Magistrate. On the charge of theft from the Post Office, Bates was sentenced to two years’ reformative detention, and on the other counts was convicted and discharged.