TO CLEAN HIS CLOTHES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 811, 4 November 1929, Page 11

TO CLEAN HIS CLOTHES

THEFT OF PETROL WORTH A SHILLING Holding that the case was parallel with that when a University student was recently discharged without conviction, Mr. Sullivan secured similar treatment for Thomas Henry Bratton at the Police Court this morning. Bratton admitted the theft of benzine valued at Is Id. His explanation was that he had taken it to clean his clothes. Accused was described as a labourer aged 32. The benzine, half a gallon, was the property of J. T. Julian and Son, accused’s employers. Mr. Sullivan entered a plea of guilty to the charge. According to Sub-Inspector McCarthy, accused had been employed on a job in Elliott Street. He said that he wanted the benzine to clean his clothes. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: But he didn’t want half a gallon for that. Mr. Sullivan: It is valued at only a shilling, your Worship. “He says that some one said he could take it.” continued the subinspector,. “He was filling a tin when he was seen and his employers told.” Mr. Sullivan urged that the man’s story was true. It was his first appearance before the court. He took the benzine quite openly and was seen by a foreman, who said nothing at all at the time. Bratton had certainly not understood that he was committing a theft. He was a married man with two children, and had now lost his position.