CAMBRIDGE COURT

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21513, 30 August 1941, Page 9

CAMBRIDGE COURT

THEFT OF BENZINE (Special to Times) CAMBRIDGE. Friday At the mor/thly sitting of the Magistrate's Court before Mr W. H. Freeman. S.M.. a younjr married man, whose name was suppressed, was" admitted to probation for 12 months and ordered to make restitution, when he pleaded guilty of stealing a drum and nine gallons of benzine. The police stated that the man was employed by a district farmer. The night before he left his job. he took from a shed the drum containing the benzine. After using the benzine he gave the drum away. Counsel said accused had not previously been in trouble. Hie mother was in ill-health and he had a young wife. In view of these circumstances the magistrate agreed to a request for suppression of the name. Benefit of Doubt When Geoffrey Vine, of Onehunga, was charged with the theft of a battery, valued at £2 11s 6d. the property of Archibald L. Jenkin. the magistrate decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was alleged that the theft had occurred at the Cambridge racecourse, where a military camp was being held. Accused pleaded guilty but then explained that he had two batteries in his car, one being an old one which had been out of use for nine months. The other battery was connected and although a battery of the same make was mi-sing from another car. he was