MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23818, 16 May 1939, Page 5

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

MONDAY (Before Mr R. C. Abernethy, S.M.) John Lake, a labourer, of Dipton, aged 20 years, was charged that at Ermedale on May 10, 1939, he stole the sum of £6/19/- in money, a cheque valued at £3/4/- and a purse valued at 5/-, of a total value of £lO/8/-, the property of George Ernest Leonard Lake. The accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective-Sergeant R. Thompson said that the accused stole the cheque, money and purse from his uncle at Ermedale. The accused went to his uncle’s place on April 10 looking for work and the latter employed him to do some rabbiting. He remained there until May 10 when he left. Before doing so, however, he went through his uncle’s clothing and committed the thefts. That night he went to Riverton and cashed the cheque in one of the hotels. He then came to Invercargill where he was arrested. It was impossible to say anything in favour of the accused. He was last before the Court on January 11 on a charge of theft. On that occasion he was treated leniently and his father, who was in the Court, undertook to control the youth. How-, ever, he was beyond control. “You have had three chances from the Court, but it looks as if you did not deserve some of them,” said the Magistrate. His father had undertaken to control the accused, but here he was in Court again.

“I am going to order you to be detained in the Borstal Institution for two years,” continued the Magistrate. “You need some discipline and had better get the idea into your head that you have got to leave other people’s property alone.”

James Alexander Anderson, a married man of Tokanui, a saw mill hand, was charged with being in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor-car at Waikiwi on Saturday night. Mr G. J. Reed, counsel for the accused, entered a plea of not guilty. Senior Sergeant W. T. Kelly asked for a remand and the Magistrate granted the request, remanding the accused to appear at 3.15 p.m. on Thursday. Bail was granted in the accused’s own recognizance of £25.