"CLEVER THIEF."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 301, 20 December 1937, Page 8

"CLEVER THIEF."

NO EQUAL IN N.Z.

LIVED BY CRIME.

12 MONTHS FOR HAWKER,

A hawker, Francis Tfalligan. aged 40, described by the police as a clever thief and without an equal in the Dominion, was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.. in the Police Court to-dav.

Halligan. smartly dressed in a grey striped suit, pleaded guilty to changes of theft of cheques valued at £I.">. £22 and £Si, and two handbags containing money and articles of a total value of £21 19/tS, from offices in the city in October and November.

Detective J. Hunt said he interviewed Halligan on December 13 when accused said lie wished- to clear up the matters. In a statement made to witness. Halliglin said he stole the cheque for .ill 7 ), and after trying to cash it in tho city, succeeded in obtaining sums of £5 arid £3 10/ from a girl employed by a Symonda Street firm on the cheque. Uater he returned and asked for the cheque, stating that he would cash it and re-fund the £8 10/ advanced on it, but instead of cashing it he tore it up and never returned to the shop. Halligan admitted stealing the handbags and money from offices in the citv.

Detective-Sergeant Mc-Hugh said only one handbag was recovered, but without the money which it had contained. The money stolen had been spent by Halligan. "Now, sir, this man Halligan is a very clever thief," added Mr. McHugh. "He is without an equal in New Zealand when it comes to stealing from offices. He has previously been in trouble. His list of convictions speaks for itself. He has been living by crime and does not appear to have made any attempt to lead an honest life."

"H'm, he started off in 1912," said the magistrate as he scanned Halligan's conviction sheet. "Six months' imprisonment on each of two charges —cumulative!"