"BIRD OF PREY"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 143, 19 June 1941, Page 8

"BIRD OF PREY"

THEFT AT A PARTY LABOURER SENT TO PRISOI Described by the police as a "bird of prey"' and a man with a bad criminal record, Samson Robot Cleland. a labourer of 35, was sen* tenced to six months' imprisonment, by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, for stealing £13 on June 11. Cleiand pleaded guilty. ■' Detective-Sergeant Nalder, whe prosecuted, said a man named Alexander Edward Aspin came to the city from the country on holiday and, on June 11. had some liquor and got into bad company. The complainant went to Cleland'sbouse in Freeman's Bay where Cleland lad been living with a Maori woman. There a considerable quantity of liquor was consumed. Complainant gave the Maori woman £13 to mind and she placed it in her dress. Cleiand knew this. About 1 ajn. Cleland and the woman retired to their room, when the complainant heard the woman scream. He asked Cleland for his monev and accused struck him and knocked him down, "A Good Party" 'Complaint was made to the police.'' added Mr. Nalder, "and Detective Slater, who was on the police night patrol, called at the house but found Cleland was not there. It must have been a good party for the detective counted 52 empty quart beer bottles and a num* ber of pint bottles, all empty. Sub* sequentiy Detective Mahood saw Cleland. who admitted the theft and explained that he had spent £3 and had lost a £10 note. This man Cleland is nothing but a bird of prey in the locality of Hobson and Victoria Streets, waiting for men from the country and taking them into hotels. He "has a bad criminal record and has been on probation. "I know the type of man he is,* remarked the "magistrate as he sentenced Cleland to six months imprisonment.