POTATOES STOLEN

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21417, 10 May 1941, Page 11

POTATOES STOLEN

MEN EMPLOYED DIGGING OFFENCE AT RUKUHIA I j This district has been notorious j for thefts from farmers and marketgardeners during the past two years,” declared Senior-Sergeant A. U. McHugh, in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, yesterday, when George Deacon, of Rukuhia, and two other young men, whose names were ordered to be suppressed, were charged with sealing six bags of potatoes, valued at £1 16s, at Rukuhia on April 16. A further charge of stealing one bag of potatoes on March 29 was brought against Deacon. The three accused pleaded guilty to the charges. Potatoes Recovered Accused were employed at Rukuhia digging potatoes, said the Seniorsergeant, when they conceived tne idea of stealing several bags. After c. party they went by car and removed six bags, which were later recovered by the police. Deacon had already stolen a bag of potatoes on a previous occasion. Mr A. G. Ward, who appeared for the other two accused, urged the magistrate to extend the utmost leniency to them. They had removed the potatoes .as a youthful prank. Both were of the highest character, and. a conviction would oe a black mark against them for the lest of their lives. The magistrate entered a conviction and imposed a fine of £5. Deacon was fined £5 on the first charge and £2 10s on the second count.