MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 275, 15 August 1921, Page 7

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

HABITUAL CRIMINAL ON PROBATION. In the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday William Thomas Burndgo, an old offender with a very long list of convictions for theft, and who has already been declared an lia.bitu]al criminal, pleaded guilty to stealing one and one hat from the Coffee Palaeo in Cuba Street. Later the same day he stole a pair of boots from a room in the Trocadero, and he w « 3 fmind in possession of an overcoat for which ho could not account. Some time ago he was sentenced at Dunedin to three years imprisonment for breaking and entering and declared an habitual criminal. He was released on probationary license on July 4 and exactly a month later he resumed his criminal career. There was no reason whatever for stealing, as ho had JSIO to his credit with the probation officer and could have drawn against this for his needs. The Magistrate commented . on the fact of a man with, such a criminal record being released' on probation. The accused said ho had been very ill recently and had undergone four serious operations. . Acting-Chief Detective Andrews said that drink appeared to be his trouble. , Burridge was sentenced to six months imprisonment on each of the first two charges, the terms to bo cumulative, and was convicted and discharged on the others. For drunkenness Michael Melville, against whom there was one previous conviction, Iwfis fined 10%, with the option of 48' hours’ imprisonment.