PROBATION FOR AIRMAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 271, 16 November 1943, Page 3

PROBATION FOR AIRMAN

STOLE CONSTABLE’S CYCLE How a cycle owned by a police constable and parked at the rear of a Wanganui theatre on the night of September 9 was subsequently removed by a young airman was told in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when Herbert Skipper Gawler, aged 19, admitted the theft of a cycle valued at £B, the property of Robert Oswald Foster.

Admitting accused to probation, Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., said he would give him another chance because of his youth and being a first offender. “I cannot suppress your name; these thefts of bicycles are too frequent,” the magistrate added. When the constable missed his cycle he started making inquiries, and at a later date a Maori was seen riding the machine, said DetectiveSergeant J. K. Robertson. The Maori was interviewed and as result accused, who admitted removing the cycle from the rear of a theatre, was approached by the police. Accused had repainted the cycle and a Maori living at the same house had loaned it to a friend. Accused also said that he had intended abandoning the I cycle near the police station, but this did not seem a feasible explanation.

“You are only 19 and it is. youi first conviction for dishonesty, there fore T propose giving you a chance but I want, to impress on you that i must, of course, but your last chance,' caid the magistrate,' admitting ac cused to probation.