LIVING “BILL SYKES”

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 296, 10 September 1926, Page 5

LIVING “BILL SYKES”

A CRIME A DAY FOR A FORTNIGHT Br Tbloghaph.—Press Association. Auckland, September 9. A modern yet youthful “Bill Sykes” came before the Magistrate’s Court this morning. He was John Massey (aged 24), and he pleaded guilty to 14 charges, nine of breaking and entering dwelling houses, and three of breaking into shops, one of attempted breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime and another charge of theft. The offences took place between August 17 and 31, the articles stolen comprising clothing, cigarettes, field glasses, electric torches, a gramophone, records, carpenter’s tools, cutler?’ and pictures, of a total value of £72 5s lid. Detective Knight said he bad made inquiries about various cases on September 2, when in the company of Detective Lambert. He accosted Massey in Hobson Street. Massey was then wearing a stolen suit and had with him an attache case which contained stolen articles. A wristlet watch he bad stolen from a house accused had on his wrist. Witness took accused to the police station where be questioned him. As the result of what Massey stated, most of the stolen property was recovered. Witness recovered a bag from behind a building. This contained accused’s clothes. In a statement which Massey made to witness, and which he had signed as being correct in detail, accused explained that he had been out of employment, and since leaving a house in Dominion Road a fortnight prior to his arrest, he had been sleeping out in a shed. He was unable to obtain sufficient work to keep himself. Accused’s custom was to gain entrance to shops and bouses by breaking window panes and opening the locks of doors from the inside Massey was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused.