SERIES OF THEFTS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18344, 2 June 1931, Page 8

SERIES OF THEFTS.

CHEMIST FOUND GUILTY. AN EDITOR DEFRAUDED. AUCKLAND, Monday. George Clifford Butterworth, chemist, aged 32, appeared at the Police Court this. morning charged that ou April 2 lie obtained clothing worth £lO 16s from a city firm by falsely representing that lie was A. J. Heighway, editor, of Wellington; on April 20 witJi obtaining £2 from Ethel Coop by a valueless cheque; fraudulently motting to account to A. J. Heighway for £5, thereby committing theft; fraudulently omitting to account to D. A. Haslip for £3 15s, thereby committing theft; and on April 3 with stealing five cases of lemons valued at £2 10s, the property of A. J. Heighway. Mr Heighway, editor, of Wellington, said he owned a lemon farm at Henderson. lie "secured for Butterworth several casual jobs. Later witness gave accused a position jon his farm at Henderson at £1 per week, plus 5s which witness paid for rent of a cottage for accused, lie gave Buttc>'worth bis fare and £5 in cash and sent him to Auckland. Early in April it came to his knowledge that Butterworth had obtained goods valued at £lO from an Auckland firm by representing himself as witness. Butterworth failed to pay £3 15s which was handed to him as wages for a youth employed on the farm. Subsequently witness discovered other things about Butterworth and dispensed with his services. “Your story is too thin and.l don't believe it,” Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., told accused. “ Here’s a man who befriends you and you show your appreciation by robbing him right and left. You are convicted on the charges and remanded until Thursday next for sentence. • I feel too annoyed with you to sentence you now.”