STOLEN AND PAWNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 1

STOLEN AND PAWNED

LURE OF WATCH SPELLS GAOL TERM DRESSING ROOM THEFT A workmate’s watch left in his vest in the common dressing room was too much for Leonard Walter Lash on Tuesday. Lash, aged 32, was charged at the Police Court this morning with the theft of a watch valued at £ 1 10s from Cecil Kernahan. He pleaded not guilty. Kernahan said he was employed at an hotel where Lash was porter. On Tuesday he had missed his new watch out of the pocket of his vest which had been left hanging in the staff changing room. He had previously shown the watch to Lash. Walter Bell, loan company manager, said that he had identified Lash as the man who had pledged what was proved to be Kernahan’s watch. He had given the name of Smith. Lash expressed a strong wish to be tried by a Jury at the Supreme Court. "You can't,” countered Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. “The amount is under £2.” "He has been to the Supreme Court before and convenient Juries have let him off,” remarked Chief-Detective. Hammond. Lash was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. On a further charge of forging the name of T. H. McMillan to a cheque for £4 at Morrinsville on January 3 and causing Robert Sarich to act upon it, he was remanded to appear at Morrinsville on ■Wednesday.