PENITENT THIEF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 289, 7 December 1933, Page 3

PENITENT THIEF.

RABITUAL'S LAPSES.

HUS RECORD AGAINST HIM

STORY IN POLICE COURT

One of the most obliging and penitent habitual criminals to stand in the dock for many years was Archibald Andrew Charles Scott, aged 30, engineer, who appeared in the Police Court this morning on two burglary charges.

Scott was charged with breaking and entering by day the dwelling of J. 11. Cartwright, at Patetonga, on October 2S, and stealing groceries, clothing and a variety of other articles, including a double-barrelled shotgun, of the total value of £13, and, on October 22, breaking and entering by day the dwelling of Martin Asliton Eccles, at Taniwha, and stealing goods and articles, valued at £2 S/. When asked if lie desired to question ilr. Cartwrigbt, who gave evidence of the thefts during his absence, Scott asked if witness had got some of his goods back. "Yes, some of them," said Mr. Cartwrigbt, an elderly farmer. Scott: I'm willing ;o tell you where tho rest of the goods ate. You know the district. Air. V. K. Hunt, S.M. (to Scott): You had better have a chat with Mr. Cartwright afterwards. "I'm Sony." The occupier of the other house, Mr. Eccles, entered, and said he was curious to know whether accused took his tenuis shoes. "I would give up looking for them if I knew he had taken them." Scott: I'm sorry, Mr. Eccles, I'm not in ;i position to say where the overcoat and shoes are. I liiive not been in the locality since. I had hoped the police would have found them. Detective John Hunt produced two statements which had been made by Scott. In one, Scott said he visited Mr. Eccles' farm about 7 p.m. and after having a meal, remained there all night. Later ho returned during the owner's absence and, finding the house unlocked, entered and after having a. meal stole tho articles. On another date he entered the home of Mr. Cartwrigbt, had a meal there and departed after stealing some clothing and other articles, including a shotgun. Scott admitted that most of the property was "planted" by him in the district. Difficult to Keep Job. Scott elected to make a statement. "[ was out on license at the time these little episodes occurred," he told tho magistrate. "I had to get work at several farms and I found it difficult to keep a job, as people found out that I was an habitual criminal. They often told me that they could not have an habitual criminal around, and I had to leave, in mairy cases, with wages owing inc. When 1 was arrested I was milking cows at five o'clock in the morning, and the gentleman I was then working for said ho was very pleased with my services. I'm sorry I thieved from these people and J have done my very best to restore their goods to them."

Accuned pleaded guilty to both charges and was committed for sentence in the Supreme Court.