THEFT OF BICYCLE

Waikato Times, Volume 91, Issue 14134, 11 August 1919, Page 5

THEFT OF BICYCLE

ACCUSED WITH A RECORD

ASKS FOR ANOTHER CHANCE

SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. At the Police Court, Hamilton, this morning, before Mr ri. A. Young, S.M., Charles Cox was charged with having stolen a bicycle valued at £ll, the property of Peter Jelavich. He pleaded guilty. Senior-sergeant Till, representing the police, said mat accused \> as at present out on probation by the Auckland Prison Board. He was seen wheeling a bievcle by a constable, who, ten minutes later received a complaint that a bievcle had been taken from in front of a. billiard room. Upon investigation it was found that (he two bicycles were identical. Defendant pleaded for leniency, stating that he had been unfortunate through life, and was one of those who needed help. He had a wife and child dependent upon him. He blamed himself for taking liquor, hut on Saturday, feeling ill. he'took a considerable quantity of schnapps, and lost all control of himself. He had a bicycle of his own «nd must have taken complainant's bievcle in mistake for this. He had no knowlege of taking the bicycle, and, uuder the circumstances, pleaded to be given another chance. If he was convicted on this charge it would mean that ho would have to serve the sentence on which he had been released on The Magistrate stated that he had Wore him' a list of convictions which showed that accused had, during the past 21 vears been sentenced to Years' imprisonment, and had twice heen declared an habitual criminal. Accused pleaded for pity. He had paid the penalty for what he had done in the past, and was now going straight ... A sentence of six months' imprisonment was inflicted by His Worship. "That means years," said accused as he left the dock.