TWO CHARGES OF THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 28 August 1930, Page 18

TWO CHARGES OF THEFT

TAILOR AND A SUIT LENGTH. A tailor, Hugh Fraser Pirie, was charge in the New Plymouth Police Court' yesterday, before Mr. R. IV. Tate, S.M., with stealing three milkjugs valued at £3, the property of Helen Hughes, and one suit length valued at £3, the property of Albert Keig. The first charge was dated August 25 and the second August 26, both at New Plymouth. After the magistrate had obtained a report from the probation officer accused was sentenced to one month’s hard labour on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. Pirie had been working as a tailor at Stratford and had come to New Plymouth on August 23, when he went to the Jubilee Boarding House, said SeniorSergeant McCrorie. Last Monday he took from there three pint jugs, vyhich he later sold to a second-hand dealer for 5s each. When brought to the police station he gave the name of Pilie. The suit length was sold for 16s. Yesterday morning Pirie admitted that he had stolen the articles. He had been convicted twice previously, under the names of Perry and Perrie. He was evidently given to drink. A plea of guilty was entered for defendant by Mr. A. A. Bennett. Pirie elected to be dealt with summarily.

It was obvious that the man’s trouble was drink, said Mr. Bennett. It was admitted that both offences were committed while he was under the influence of drink for the purpose of obtaining more liquor. The two previous offences cited, it was pointed out, happened two years ago, in March, 1928, and the fact that Pirie had kept straight since then showed that it was a case of taking drink rather than to criminality. He was a married man, and he was prepared to take out a prohibition, order. Mr. Bennett said that under the circumstances he would go so far'as to ask the court to call defendant up for sentence in a few months’ time. The ■Salvation Army officer knew the man. and had taken him to the boardinghouse and paid his board. The magistrate said he would obtain a report from the probation officer.