ON DRINKING BOUT.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19658, 19 August 1935, Page 7

ON DRINKING BOUT.

OAR DRIVER IN COURT. THEFT CHARGE DISMISSED. GIVEN BENEFIT OF DOUBT. “ If a man cannot give an explanation as to how stolen property comes Into his possession it is evidence either that ho is the actual thief or that he is guilty of receiving,” observed Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M. in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, this morning giving the benefit of the doubt to Leslie Richmond Henderson (29), blacksmith and engineer, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing a book entitled "Crime and Punishment,” the property of the Hamilton Public Library. Henderson admitted a charge of being found intoxicated in charge of a car at Hamilton on Thursday. Senior-Sergeant Lambert said at 3.45 p.m. on Thursday the accused was arrested for intoxication in charge of a car in Victoria Street. At the police station Henderson’s car was searched and the book found. Bertha Manning, librarian, gave evidence that (lie book belonged to the library and had not been issued to anyone. After constable Hay had testified to finding the book in the pocket of accused's car, the accused, in (lie wit-ness-box, said lie came from Auckland and on Thursday indulged in a drinking bout. He had never seen the hook before, when shown ii, and the only explanation he could give was that one of his drinking companions had left. Iho book in flic ear. He did not know Hie names of his associates. The Senior-Sergeant handed (lie bench a list of previous convictions. Mr Paterson said he would give the

accused tho bonolil of Iho doubt as the police had staled that ho was very drunk at the lime. He accordingly dismissed the theft charge. On" the intoxication charge the accused was convicted and lined £5 with costs and ■prohibited from holding a driving license until May 31, 1937. A week xvas allowed as time to pay.