Probation For Young Man On Charge Of Receiving

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 October 1950, Page 6

Probation For Young Man On Charge Of Receiving

“This receiving of stolen property is a serious offence because if there were no receivers there would not be the outlet for stolen property,” commented Mr S. S. Preston, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when admitting Piko Hawkins, scrubcutter, aged 30, to probation for 12 months. Defendant had pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving two men’s shirts, a pair of trousers and a pair of overalls, of a total value of £5 10s, at Wanganui on October 2, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. The magistrate commented that in 1 the present case he would take into account defendant’s clean record and | the fact that he had acted foolishly. The police prosecutor told the Court I that on the evening of October 2, a I traveller representing a Wellington clothing manufacturing firm parked his car in Ridgway Street and next morning found that two suit, cases, containing shirts, overalls, shorts, overcoats and trousers were missing. Defendant was interviewed by the police last. Friday and then had in his possession the articles mentioned in ! the charge. ! The police alleged that two other |men, who had yet to be dealt with, jhad taken the suitcases in question In fairness to defendant, it should be stated that defendant had fold these men that they had acted foolishly. I One of the men gave defendant the i articles. Hawkins bad no previous: ’convictions and was a good, worker. ,Ho was making a voluntary appearance. In reply to the magistrate, defendant admitted that he knew the clothling had been stolen. IT? realised that he should not have kept the".? articles. I As the clothes had been worn, defendant was also ordered to make restitution of £5 10s.