AN HABITUAL CRIMINAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7830, 24 June 1909, Page 4

AN HABITUAL CRIMINAL.

Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. "William George Murphy, the man who has been demanding a large share of public attention lately by his sensational attempts to escape from justice, appeared before Mr T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning, and was committed to Lyttelton gaol for six months. Murphy's record is full of incident. In May of last year he was sentenced to a month's imprisonment for theft, at Masterton; and a month later he was convicted m the same town for assault, theft and false pretences, and was committed to gaol for a further period of six months. He afterwards appeared m Dunediri, where he was adjudged to be insane and committed : to-the Seacliff Mental Hospital. Evidently the prospects of undergoing incarceration for an indefinite period did not appeal to him, for while being conveyed to Seacliff he jumped from the train, and successfully eluded all attempts to recapture him. He was gazetted as "wanted," but the police were unable to- lay hands on him until he was arrested recently at llangitata by the Ashburton police. The following were the charges made against Murphy (who has also passed himself off as George Keys) at the Magistrate's Court this morning: . On May 3, at Christchurch, theft of a suit of 'clothes and a nickel watch, of a total value of £6, the property; of James M'Enemy; on May 3 at Christchurch, theft of a motor overcoat, ;of a value of £5, and a pair of gloves, valued at £1, the property of Howard C. James; on May 29, at Hallswell, breaking and entering the dwellinghouse of Richard Sparks, and stealing therefrom one large rug, valued at £1 Gd, and a pair of underpants, valued at ss: on May 29, at Halswell. breakin p and entering the dwelling-house of Hxigh Small, and stealing therefrom one razor, a shaving brush and oi.e shirt, of a total value of £1; on Juno 14, at Kimberley, breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Robert Dysart, and stealing therefrom a quantity of meat, bread and cheese, valued at 3s, and 6s 6d m money. Detective Bishop said that he woakl reduce the charges of breaking and entering to charges of theft. The accused pleaded guilty to all the charge. The Magistrate sentenced 11 ■-.* accused to imprisonment for six montl s on the second charge, for three viionth-j "ii die third charge, and for d >■ month <;n each of the fourth and fifth chc.rges, the sentences to be concurrent.