STOLEN PIGEONS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21198, 22 August 1940, Page 6

STOLEN PIGEONS

OFFENCES BY TWO MEN LEG RINGS REMOVED Charged with the thefts of nearly 30 pigeons from three different fanciers, Edward Belcher, aged 28, labourer, of Hamilton, and Sinclair Scott, aged 19, labourer, of Hamilton, appeared before Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, today. Both accused, who were represented by Mr W. J. King, pleaded guilty. The charges against the two men were as follows: That on August 14 they stole ten homing pigeons, valued at £2O, from H. R. Brown; that on August 16 they stole ten homing pigeons, valued at £2O. from L. C. Cooper; that on August 8 they stole eight fantail pigeons and one dove from H. H. Howden. Statements in which the two men admitted the thefts were read in Court. “The worst feature of the thefts,” said Senior-Sergeant A. G. McHugh,

“was that the accused removed the rings from the legs of the birds, and thus rendered them more or less useless for racing purposes. This has consequently reduced their value. Belcher has previously been in trouble, but the other man has not. All but one of the birds have been restored to their owners.” “Scott has not been in trouble before, and one would feel that the older man was the guiding light in the affair,” said Mr King. “About eight years ago he was before the Court, but since then he has been an exemplary character. He has been out of work, and it may be that Satan still has work for idle hands to do. That has caused Belcher to get into trouble again.” Each accused was admitted to probation for two years, and was ordered to pay £7 10s damages to Brown, £7 10s to Cooper and £1 11s 6d to Howden.