PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT CHARGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18992, 11 February 1930, Page 9

PLEAD GUILTY TO THEFT CHARGES.

YOUTHS CAUGHT AFTER POLICE HAD SET TRAP.

Two youths aged eighteen years, who pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to-day to a series of charges of breaking, entering and theft, were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The accused were William lan M’Kay, shop assistant, and Elwin Henderson, shop assistant, both employed by Thomas Wilson, fishmonger, Edgeware Road, from whom money had been stolen. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., was on the Bench. Mr Malley appeared for Henderson, and Mr Reid for M’Kay. The accused were jointly charged with breaking and entering, on January 25, the shop of Thomas Wilson, and committing theft, and further, that between June 1, 1929, and January 29, 1930, they stole divers sums of money amounting to £SO, the property of Thomas Wilson. M’Kay was further charged with breaking and entering Wilson’s shop and committing theft on January 27. and again on January 29. Thomas Wilson said that he was a fishmonger carrying on business in Edgeware Road. It was his habit to go to his shop at 7 a.m. daily. At this hour he placed £3 worth of silver in his till, and also an amount of silver in a tin under the counter. For a period since June he noticed that there was a shortage in his cash. The shortages often occurred twice a week. M’Kay had been in the employ of witness since last March, and Henderson had worked with him at different times. He returned to witness in May, 1929. Witness was at first puzzled to know how the shortages took place. He locked his shop up between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.,. while he was at the market. He decided to find out, and it was a long time before he made any discovery. On January 25 a fanlight which had been open when he left for the market, had been closed by some person -while he was away. There was only £1 15s 6d left out of £3, which he had placed in his till. On January 29, when witness returned from the market, he found a constable there, who said that he had caught M’Kay on the premises. M’Kay had no right in the shop while witness was away. Witness estimated his loss during the period between June and January 29 at about £IOO.

To Mr Malley, witness said that he had told the police formerly that his loss was between £6O and £7O. He had found recently that there was a chance of restitution being made. He thought the boys had taken more than £SO, but he had no proof of it. “I did not keep a check on the money missing,” said witness. The Magistrate: You were very foolish, Mr Wilson.—Yes, I was, but, of course, you learn these things when it is too late. The Magistrate: Oh! It did not take you six months to learn that. The Police Hid. Sergeant Almond said that in company with Constable Harper, he hid in the yard at the shop on the morning after the complaint was made. At 8.30 a.m. M’Kay came over the fence and entered the shop by means of the fanlight, and, reaching down, opened the window by moving the catch with a fish scraper. M’Kay took a tin from under the counter, and removed a quantity of silver. Witness opened the back door, and caught M’Kay as he was coming out. He was searched, and in one pocket was 35s in silver. Some of the coins were marked ones, the marking having been done by Constable Harper earlier in the morning. Witness then read statements made by the accused, in which they admitted the offences. To Mr Malley: Within twenty-four hours from the time the information was laid, we placed our hands on the culprits. It appeared that money was placed in the tin and the till for six months, in spite of the disappearance of certain sums. Corroborative evidence was given bv Constable Harper. Bail was allowed in the sum of £SO, with one surety of £SO, in respect to Henderson. Both accused have to report daily to the police.