XMAS IN GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 297, 15 December 1936, Page 8

XMAS IN GAOL.

ONE MAN'S 13TH.

OLD MAN ROBBED.

TWO BOYS SAW CRIME.

One of two men sentenced by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.,.:;in the Police Court this morning to two months' imprisonment for theft from an old man is to spend his thirteenth Christinas in prison. Before he left the dock en route for the prison his counsel expressed the hope that he would have a merry Christmas. The man was George Cunningham, arred 02. Jointly with James Henry Edwards, aged 48, he was charged, on Dccembcr 4, with stealing £1 10/ in money, a pair of spectacles in a case and a tobacco pouch,- of a total value of £2, the property of Andrew Greig. Edwards and Cunningham, represented by Mr. Noble, pleaded not guilty. Grei"', in evidence, said that after he left a "city hotel to go to his lodgings, about 0 p.m. on December 4, he collapsed and did not remember any more until later in the eveuing when a relative nave him a cup of tea. He had ill his pockets when he left the hotel £1 10/ in notes and the other articles mentioned in the charge. Went Through Pockets. Two boys gave evidence that in Lower Nelson Street they saw Greig 'lying in the gutter. One of the accused lifted him up, and then Edwards went through hk pockets, extracting what appeared to be a brown paper parcel. One witness said Cunningham appeared to be keeping watch. The boys called a constable, and both Edwards and Cunningham were arrested for drunkenness. The arresting constable said that Edwards had 2/0 on him when arrested, and Cunningham Od. "These two boys. are to be congratulated," said Mr. Wyvern WiTson, 5.51. "I think they have told a straightforward story of what happened. I think Cunningham was acting in concert with Edwards. They will both be convicted for theft." ; -'. "Sad Story." When Detective-Sergeant McHugh produced the lists of previous convictions possessed by both men, Mr. Noble said he would rather Mr. McHugh explained them to the magistrate, in any case as far as Cunningham was concerned. "In his case it is rather a sad and sorry position," said Mr. Noble. "Since 1923 Cunningham has spent every Christmas in prison. It is most unfortunate."

"I suppose it would not be Christmas unless he was there?" said the magistrate.

Mr. Noble: Well, sir, I hope he has a merrv Christmas.

Edwards and Cunningham were each sentenced to two months' imprisonment