WANDERING BURGLAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 165, 15 July 1930, Page 9

WANDERING BURGLAR.

EXPLOITS IN TARANAKI. TRIBUTE TO ARRESTING CONSTABLE. FOOD POP THE LONELY ROAD. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Monday. A wandering burglar's exploits in Taranaki were explained in the Police Court before justices to-day, when John William McClure pleaded guilty to four charges of breaking, entering and theft, and two charges of attempted breaking and entering at Stratford and New Plymouth. Prisoner was committed to the Supreme Court in Wellington for sentence. A remand was also granted to Hawera, where further charges are to be made.

Two premises at Stratford and two at New Plymouth were entered after prisoner had forced windows with a cold chisel. In two cases at Stratford his efforts failed to force an entrance.

Giving his name as Watson, prisoner was overtaken by a constable as he was walking the highway towards Auckland on the day after his last" New Plymouth offences. The constable took some stamps from prisoner's pocket, and after informing the man that he would be charged with an offence prisoner became violent and resisted arrest, but was thrown to the road, handcuffed and held there until voluntary assistance was offered by a passer-by.

In the dock to-day, when asked if he had anything to say, prisoner replied that seeing he would ultimately get a long sentence on the strength of the constable's evidence, he would like to express his appreciation of the unimpassioned way in which the constable had given his evidence. "He could no doubt have made it a good deal hotter for me," added prisoner.

The nature of the goods stolen byaccused indicated preparation against lean days of tramping on the road. There were cigarettes, biscuits, cough mixture, aspirins, paste sandwich relish, coffee! cocoa, a billy of tea, and a number of postage stamps, the goods being carried off in a sack.

A mysterious note signed. "Sam Pincher" was found the morning after a burglary at the Public Works' office. Stratford. The office was in a state of confusion, and the note, in bold letters written in t)»e semi-darkness, read: "Found, ten shilling bank note. ' Sam Pincher."