ATTITUDE IN DOCK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20219, 1 February 1934, Page 9

ATTITUDE IN DOCK.

Magistrate Objects to Accused’s Smiles. “I was .inclined to give these young men probation, but I don’t like the way they came into Court—smiling and treating it as a huge joke,” said Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., when Colin Keith Manson, Roy Illingworth and Gilbert Louis La Grosse appeared for .sentence on a number of theft charges in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. “ I certainly object to young men coming into Court on a serious charge and smiling all over their faces,” continued the Magistrate. He then adjourned the case for a short period to enable counsel to impress their clients with the seriousness of the occasion. When accused returned, Mr Thomas, who appeared for Manson, said that the- action of the accused was largely due to nervousness. It was a case of “ the boy whistling in the dark.” Accused offered their apologies for their conduct. Mr Layburn, who appeared for La Grosse and Illingworth, corroborated Mr Thomas’s remarks. The Magistrate said that accused needed stricter supervision and an occasional application of a good stick. Fie was going to give them another chance, however, as he thought they might still make something of their lives. Accused were placed on probation for eighteen months on each charge, a condition being that they did not associate with each other. La Grosse was ordered to refund 6s Bd, Manson 27s lOd, and Illingworth 14s 6d. On Tuesday, Manson and Illingworth, labourers, 19 years of age, of Martindale Road, pleadgd guilty to the theft of a gallon of wine and two razors, of a total value of £1 10s, the property of Walter Edwin Mouldy, and the theft of nine gallons of petrol, valued at 15s 9d, the property of Frederick George Nixon. Manson also pleaded guilty to the theft of eight gallons of benzine, valued at 13s 4d, the property of David Dickey, and the theft of one milking tube, valued at ss, the property of James Munnings. With La Grosse, a labourer, 20 years of age, Manson pleaded guilty to the theft of a tyre rim and tube, of a total value of £2, the property of Leonard James Larcombe. Manson, La Grosse and Illingworth pleaded guilty to the theft of six bottles of wine, valued at £l, the property of Walter Edwin Mouldy.