VAGRANCY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 4 September 1930, Page 14

VAGRANCY.

♦ ALLEGED PICKPOCKET SENT TO GAOL. — —— ~ Cravss issocutxox tblxosuc.) WELLINGTON, September 8; Described by the police as an export pickpocket, John Sandford Valvoi.alias Andrews, alias Reid, aged 31,- a labourer, was sentenced in the Magistrate's Court to-day to three months' imprisonment with hatd labour, for being idle and disorderly, in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. Sub-Inspector Ward said accused was a native of Auckland, and he had known him personally for a number of years. Accused made a practice of following race meetings throughout the country. He had apparently benefited by his ex- j perience in Australia, and he was re- I garded by the police as an expert pickpocket. Accused had broken into a conversation between two men outside i a garage and had brushed against one of them. When the man reached home he missed his watch. Accused was later seen moving about in a suspicious manner on the wharf for the Sydney boat about a fortnight ago. The Auckland police had enquired whether accused was in Wellington, aa they (the Auckland police) had intended to proceed against accused on a charge similar to that before the Court. The Magistrate, in sentencing accused, said the police report concerning him was thoroughly unfavourable.