THEFT FROM A CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1023, 12 January 1911, Page 2

THEFT FROM A CHURCH.

(By Te'icsrapli.—Special Correspondent.) Auckland, January 11. An unusual case of theit- came before, tho Whaugarei Court . yesterday, the I stolen articles consisting of a silver cup; and. tray belonging to the communion service of the church at Pehiaweri, together with sundry other articles of church furniture. Charles M'lnman was charged, with breaking and entering the church and with the, theft-of tho articles. His wife was charged with receiving. It was! shown that tho woman, who had several young children, had every reason to believe -her- husband- had authority .to take [. the things, and she had . converted an altar cloth into a,skirt for' herself: Sho was simply ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. The whole of the afternoon .was -occupied ■ with the taking , or evidence (mostly M'airi) in respect ot • charge against Charles M'lnman.. It '■ appears that an entrance was effected through one of the windows, every particle of glass being removed from one o£ the frames. Tho whole, of tho .missing property was traced through the finding of . four church lamps in an auctioneer a mart. M'lnman had sent the articles in for public auction, and given written instructions. On making inquiries at the accused's house all the rest of the church property was recovered, none of it being, damaged except the altar cover. The ac■cused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence to the Supreme Cmirt, baU being allowed in one .surety of .£IOO ana two of X'so each.