THEFT CHARGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20311, 22 May 1934, Page 8

THEFT CHARGE.

Fisherman Convicted at Lyttelton. Charles Henry Stimpson, a fisherman, was charged in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs T. A. Mahar, J.P., and W. D. Gower, J.P., with stealing a pair of gum-boots, valued at 32s 6d, the property of Everard Alexander Roberts, a relief worker. The accused pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Wilson said that on Sunday, April 8, Mr Roberts and another relief worker, Victor Dawson, went out to fish, taking with them all their gear except the gum-boots, which were placed on the launch Lavinia. At the time the accused’s launch was moored alongside Lavinia. When they returned from fishing they discovered that the boots were missing. Roberts did not report the matter to the police, but kept a sharp look-out for the boots. Yesterday afternoon Roberts noticed that the accused was wearing the boots and notified the police. Plain-clothes Constable Jackways made investigations, and accused produced the boots from his launch. When questioned as to how he had come into possession of the boots, Stimpson said that he had purchased them about six weeks ago for 5s from a seafarer whom he had not seen previously or since. Complainant, whose story was corroborated by Daw’son, said that he could identify the boots by a small piece missing from the toe on the left foot. There were other marks of identification. Originally they were thigh boots, but since they had been stolen the portion above the knee had been cut off. Accused, from the dock, still adhered to his statement that he had purchased the boots from a seaman. It was a common he said, for sailors to sell boots, jerseys and other articles to “ raise the wind ” before their vessels sailed, and he had often done so himself. He pleaded that during his twenty years’ sojourn in Lyttelton he had never been charged with theft before. The Bench convicted accused, and fined him £l, in default seven days’ imprisonment. Fie was ordered to pay 15s restitution for the damage to the boots, and 8s witnesses’ expenses. He w r as allowed fourteen days in which to find the money.