THEFT OF A BICYCLE LAMP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 21, 19 July 1911, Page 2

THEFT OF A BICYCLE LAMP.

TWO YOUTHS CHARGED AND REMANDED, Two youths, named Charles Sydney Ross, aged 1!), an ex-i)»nate of the Burnham Industrial School, and Leslie Jacklin Hardgrave, aged 20, an ex-inmate of the Weraroa Training School, appeared at the Police Court vesterday morning before Mr. H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., charged with the theft of a bicycle lamp, valued at 10s, the property of D. J. Crone, a telegraph messenger. The theft was a particularly glaring one. Ross had a bicycle but no lamp, and his colleague, Hardgrave, offered to supply the deficiency. Both youths accordingly walked up to the Post Office at 9 o'clock on Saturday night and commandeered a lamp, already lighted, from a bicycle outside the Post Office. A few moments later the telegraph 'boy came out to deliver a message, and found his light was missing. The light in its new owners' hands, however, failed to act, and this led to their undoing, as they took it to Arnold George's cycle shop, and the cycle man at once recognised it as a lamp he had recently sold. On being arrested the tale was forthcoming that they received the lamp from a man they did not know, but eventually the offence was admitted, and at the Court yesterday accused pleaded guilty and were remanded, as Sergeant Dart

explained that he had telegraphed to the managers of the institutions from which the lads had been licensed, to. see if they wished them returned there.