A MEAN THIEF.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16814, 4 June 1926, Page 6

A MEAN THIEF.

ROBBED THE UNEMPLOYED. {By Telegraph—Press association.}' AUCKLAND, Thursday. Having pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing Bs, the property of the Auckland unemployed organisation, a young Australian, Robert Cook, who appeared at the Police Court this morning, before Mr J. W. Poynton, S.M., was sent to gaol for one month. The facts, disclosed by Chief Detective Cummings, were that on May 28 a concert, organised by the Rev. Grant Cowen, was held, the proceeds being in aid of tiie unemployed, more particularly for tho wives and families of llioso out of work. Several young men were given concert tickets to sell at Is cacti. When Cook received his tickets he altered the price from Is to 2s and collected Bs, which lie failed to hand to the secretary of the organisation. He also changed his address. One of tiie tickets lie sold to a well known doctor, who observed the alteration in price on the ticket, and reported the maLter. As a result accused was arrested. He had spent the money collected. It was a mean theft on the part of Cook, whose reputation was unsatisfactory. “He is long overdue here,” added the Chief Detective. Cook told Mr Poynton that he really took the money as he was out of work and had been getting two meals a day from the Salvation Army, lie meant to pay the money back. Chief Detective Cummings: You get charitable aid, do you nut?—Yes. “Fancy an able-bodied young fellow of 20 receiving charitable aid, a man who would rob his fellow men,” said the Chief Detective. Cook was then consigned to prison for one month.