THEFT ALLEGED

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21689, 27 March 1942, Page 2

THEFT ALLEGED

DISPUTE OVER BICYCLE ACCUSED MAN’S DENIAL Charged with the theft of a bicycle and parts, and alternatively with receiving stolen property, Michael Albert O’Halloran, aged 40, pleaded not guilty before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Hamilton, today. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The case for the police was led by Detective-Sergeant W. R. Murray, the accused being represented by Mr N. I. Smith. Evidence was given by George Edwin Smale, an employee of Innes’ brewery, who said his bicycle had been removed from a shed behind the brewery. Some days after missing it he and his son saw it being ridden by two boys, sons of O’Halloran. When O’Halloran was interviewed he indignantly maintained the bicycle was his. After some discussion the accused said the bike might have been altered by his boys. Alterations Alleged Between then and next day, said witness, when O’Halloran again insisted that the machine was his, it had been altered, both wheels having been taken out and replaced with old ones. Witness was positive the bicycle was his. In a statement to the police the accused maintained that he purchased the machine about three years ago and since then had bought a new frame for it. Reserving his defence, O’Halloran elected to be dealt with by a jury. On the application of Mr Smith, who explained that O’Halloran had a wife and ten children and had been em- I ployed for 22 years at Irmes’ brewery, bail was allowed in ratm surety of £lO.