CYCLE THIEF FINED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 145, 25 July 1914, Page 12

CYCLE THIEF FINED.

MISTOOK THE MACHINE. Frediue Legge, a young man who had been for some months attending to trotting horses, was brought before Mr H. W. Bishop, .S.M., this morning, and charged with the theft of a bicycle and lamp valued at £3 17/6, the property of Ralph Leslie Bush, accountant. - The offence took place last night. Frederick Hooper said he saw accused take the .bicycle from Broadways '.

Accused said he did not exactly know what to say. He took the bicycle thinking it was his brother's bicycle. He'd had a "bit of an evening before" and wasn't sure what he was doing.

Ralph Leslie Bush said that he was an accountant. Yesterday ,he went into Broadways' shop, leaving his bicycle outside with the lamp lit. When lie came out he saw no sign of the machine. Two taxi drivers said they saw a man take the bicycle. This same man had asked the taxi men if one of them would take him out to some stables at Halswell. He had no money, but he promised to give some tips for the races as payment. Witness went out with one of the taxi drivers and ftiund accused lying beside the cycle on the bridge near the Mental Hospital. He had evidently collided with the railings. Witness put him in the taxi and brought him back to town, saying that he would hand him over to the police. He offered to allow accused to get out of the cab, but for some reason Ire did .not avail himself of the opportunity. Witness did not want to press the charge. Mr Bishop suggested .that complainant would perhaps, have thought differently if he had not recovered his bievole.

"Next time you'll find yourself in gaol/' said Mr Bishop, addressing accused. "As sure as you stand there you will. 1 'll let you off with a fine this time. You are fined 60/-, or one month with hard labour."