“ACT OF HOODLUMS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 806, 29 October 1929, Page 11

“ACT OF HOODLUMS”

THREE AMATEUR THIEVES IN COURT PROBATION FOR EACH Press Association OPOTIKI, Today. Tn the Police Court this morning - , before Mr. J. D. Clark and Mr. J. T. Merry, J.P.’s, three men, Ilopa George Shalfoon, Arthur Mallie Clarke and John James Foy, were charged with breaking and entering and theft from • ie hou>e of Thomas William lien dry, proprietor of the Opotiki Hotel. Shalfoon and Clarke were also charged with breaking into the premises of the Farmers’ Trading Company with intent to commit a crime. 'Lho evidence showed that the three • i had a consid. rable quantity of li'iuot* when late at night they filtered the Opotiki Hotel. After committing the first offence they went to ■•* hoarding house, after which Shalfoon and Clarke broke into the Farmers’ Trading Company’s premises. The ]>•<: <•' stated that accused treated the whole affair as a joke. Mr. Hodgson, who represented Shal:oon and Foy, asked for the- reduction • ! the first charge to one of common r and the second charge to one of The police said that the charges We*e very serious ones and strongly objected to any reduction. However, ;iftor a retirement the Bench reduced the charges to common theft and mischief. Accused all pleaded guilty and in admitting them to two years' probation on each charge the Bench said that there was no criminal intent. It was the act of hoodlums. Restitution was ordered to be made *»C the cost of the articles stolen and the damage done and they were also ordered to pay the cost of the prosecution. The Bench severely warned them •hat for any more escapades the*’ would be sent to gaol. The police also laid an information against Shalfoon and Foy of procuring liquor while they were prohibited. The charge was adjourned till November 20.