A TIME-WORN EXCUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 May 1927, Page 9

A TIME-WORN EXCUSE

“THE MAN IN THE STREET” AN UNAVAILING PLEA (.Special to THE SUN .) PALMERSTON N., To-day. “When he was interviewed concerning this charge he gave the timeworn excuse, ‘A man in the street gave it to me to sell.” These were the opening remarks by Senior-Ser-geant O’Grady in the Palmerston North Police Court on Friday morning when outlining a case concerning Max Jorgan Olsen, who pleaded not guilty to stealing on or about April 16, at Palmerston North, an electric generator, valued at 20s, the property of some person unknown. “This man, continued the seniorsergeant, “took the generator into an auction-room and gave instructions that it be sold without reserve. Lately, several of these generators have been reported as stolen from bicycles. The man who gave the generator to accused was known as ‘Bill.’ He had not been seen since, so accused said.” Herbert Graham, an employee at the action mart, corroborated what SeniorSergeant O’Grady had said, while Constable Compton gave evidence to the effect that accused had told him that the man “Bill” might live in Linton or Lyndhurst Street. “Have you anything to say?” asked Mr. W. F. Durward, J.P. Accused replied, “I did not steal it; it was given to me,” adding that he knew the other man as “Bill,” as he had often met him. “Accused has had several previous convictions,” the senior-sergeant explained, and the presiding justices imposed a month’s imprisonment.