PROBATION FOR THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1933, Page 9

PROBATION FOR THEFT

ERSKINE AGAIN BEFORE COURT. PROHIBITION ORDER NECESSARY. James Brodie Erskine, who was convicted in the New Plymouth police Court the previous day of the theft of a pair of trousers and a hat, the property of J. G. Coulson, was admitted to probation for two years by the magistrate, Mr. W. H. Woodward, yesterday, provided he took out a prohibition order against himself for one year. He was also ordered to pay witnesses' expenses amounting to 8s and to restore the stolen property. Sentence had been postponed from the previous day to allow the magistrate to consider a report from the probation officer. He had been informed by a reliable authority, Mr. Woodward said in giving sentence, that Erskine was a man who drank to excess. If Erskine were granted probation he proposed to make it one of the conditions that a prohibition order would be taken out for one year. On that condition he would admit Erskine to probation for a period of two years. He realised had had a position as barman in a hotel but the probation officer informed him that Erskine would have no chance of getting his position back. Therefore such an order would not interfere with his livelihood in that respect.

Judgment for plaintiffs by default was given in the following undefended claims for debt: Shorts Ltd. v. H. C. Dowman, £1 3s costs only; H. H. Moller Ltd. v. W. H. West, £23 (£4- Is 6d costs); John Abbott v. Eric Browne, £2 5s (£1 3s 6d); Robert Hughes v. J. W. Mischef ski, £7 Is 4d (£1 12s 6d); May and Sons Ltd. v. R. Bright, £3 Os 2d (£1 5s 6d); J. H. Holm and Co. v. J. G. Boulton, £1 3s 9d (8s); S. Anchor v. P. Hynes, £6 (£1 10s 6d); Newton King Ltd. v. F. Murray, 19s (8s); Whites Ltd. v. Duncan Mackay, 17s 6d (11s); John Donaldson v. Monty Pratt, £25 (£7 6s 6d).