PREMATURE CELEBRATION
CHRISTMAS DINNER STOLEN. YOUNG MEN PLEAD GUILTY. Their plans for an old-time Christmas 'dinner 'comprising turkey and geese shattered by the police, Ernest Alexander Cooper (28) and JohnGraham Whorskey (24) wore contrite expressions when they appeared before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court,. Hamilton, this morning. They pleaded guilty to a charge of 'stealing a turkey and two geese, valued at 255, the property of Joshua Smith Leech, of Fairfield, yesterday, while Cooper admitted a further 'count of stealing a turkey, valued at 17s 6d, the property of John Morton Lattrup.
“ E'arly yesterday morning the-se young men were travelling about in a oar and entered into a discussion about Christmas dinner,” Detective AJ. White told the Court. “Turkeys were 'suggested as a .suitable dish. Cooper went on a farm at Fairfield and' secured two geese, wringing their necks, while Whorskey attempted to get a turkey. The men were surprised by Mr Leech and decamped. "•It appears that these men started an early 'celebration of Hie festive season and had a little too much to drink,” he added. They were very frank with Hie police when arrested. Whorskey has never previously been in trouble and Cooper’s last offence was in 1928."
Mr .Paterson: What do they have for Christmas dinner in prison, detective? )
Mr White replied that he had never tried the Christmas fare there. The birds had been recovered slaughtered and lie did not know what commercial value could now lie placed on them. After some delay, during which time (he accused were given the opportunity of ‘considering the prospects ■of spending Christmas in a prison cell, the magistrate imposed l a fine of £3 on Cooper in default 14 days’ imprisonment, and ordered him to make 12s Gd restitution. On Hie second -charge Cooper wa.s fined' £ l in default seven days, and ordered to make restitution J 7 s od. Whorskey was lined £2 or 10 days, and ordered to make restitution of 12s Gd.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19341224.2.52
Bibliographic details
Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19458, 24 December 1934, Page 7
Word Count
331PREMATURE CELEBRATION Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19458, 24 December 1934, Page 7
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