WHEN STOLEN FRUIT IS DEAR

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXX, Issue 8452, 13 April 1933, Page 2

WHEN STOLEN FRUIT IS DEAR

THEFT OF GRAPES FROM WAIHI GARDEN THREE YOUNG MEN FINED Stolen fruit may be the, sweetest, but it is not always the cheapest. This fact was impressed on . three young men who appeared before Mr F. W. Platts, S.M., in the Waihi Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and admitted stealing grapes valued at £l 10s from vines belonging to William Turnbull Oliphant, and with damaging to the extent of 5s a gate belonging to Lilias Morgan. They were Matthew Berryman, Eric Rowe and Cyril Dick. Thomas Berryman and a young domestic who helped cqnsume the forbidden fruit, pleaded guilty to charges of receiving. Sergeant C. Harley said all the defendants met together in the street one evening at about 7.30 o’clock and a suggestion was made that a visit should be paid to Oliphant’s place for the purpose of procuring some grapes. The three young men charged with theft had arrived at the property at about S o’clock and had found the gate locked. Mrs Morgan was at church and Oliphant was also absent, so they climbed over the gate and helped themselves to the grapes and shared them with Thomas Berryman and the girl, who were waiting outside. Nothing was known against the two Berrymans, but Rowe had been in tarouble before.

Rowe said he did not think anything like £1 10s worth of grapes had been taken; he considered 5s or lOv worth nearer the mark. Had-£l 10s worth been removed about 601 b?. would have been involved, and it was ridiculous to suggest that six people would eat such a quantity. Oliphant, however, asserted that about GOlbs of fruit had been stolen. The vine, which was a heavy bearer, had been damaged and most of the grapes were gone. “It is not very creditable to the young people concerned to band together for the express purpose of robbing,” said Mr Platts. Matthew Berryman, Eric Rowe and Cyril Dick were convicted and fined £1 and costs for theft and each was ordered to pay 10s for the grapes and Is Sd towards the damage to the gate. At this juncture Rowe said he did not think the gate had been damaged. The Magistrate: When you indulge in such escapades you may often be blamed for things you may not have done, but nobody has any sympathy with you. For receiving the stolen goods both Thomas Berryman and the female defendant were fined £1 and costs, tke latter being allowed 14 days in which to find the money. Another girl, 1G years of age, who shared the spoils, was dealt with in the Children’s Court and was admonished ami discharged.