SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 79, 27 December 1928, Page 7

SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT

RESISTS ARREST CONSTABLE ASSAULTED For unlawfully assaulting Constable Baker, of Island Bay, during the execution of his duty, Walter Richard Williams was yesterday sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by Mr. J. 11. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court. Accused was also convicted for the theft of cream valued at 6s. 7d„ and for resisting the constable. Sub-Inspector Lander stated that for some time past Constable Baker had been secretly watching to try and discover who it was that was stealing milk and cream and tokens in the district. At 5 o’clock on Christmas morning the constable was riding a bicycle in plain clothes when lie saw accused in Dee Street going in the direction of the Parade. The constable kept the man under observation, and saw him go through a Chinaman’s garden in the direction of Wakefield Park. Williams saw the constable and commenced to run. Constable Baker called on him to stop, but as he failed to do this the constable followed In pursuit. Williams when a few feet away turned suddenly around, and saying, “You ,” flung an empty beer bottle at the policeman’s head. The blow cut the constable on the head through his cap, and caused blood to flow freely. After a very severe struggle accused was handcuffed and placed under arrest, a passer-by giving the constable assistance. Williams had three half-pint bottles and two quarter-pint bottles of cream in his possession, but refused to say where lie got them from. Accused had two ribs broken in the struggle, but it was possible that the injury had been caused partly by the bottles in his pocket. Tlie doctor who had been called to the station to examine accused was not quite certain whether another one of his ribs was fractured or not. Accused, who was a married man with a family, had been convicted for the theft of some fowls in 1915. "I mention this, Your Worship,” said the Sub-Inspector, “because it shows the type of theft he commits. He is regarded as a ‘sneak-thief,’ and is suspected by the constable of committing numerous like thefts at Island Bay. When the constable phased him he took sometliing out of his pocket and flung it in the long grass, but it has not been found.”

On behalf of.'Williams, Mr. A. B. Sievwi’ight pleaded for leniency. It was thirteen years since accused had been convicted, and he was therefore a first offender. He had not touched a drink for a year, but on Christmas Eve about 11 o’clock he had been in a very drunken state, though it was not known where lie secured tlie liquor from. This had undoubtedly been the cause of the trouble, which 'Williams remembered very little about.

The Magistrate said that he found it impossible to accept the view that Williams was drunk at such an early hour of the morning, because he was able to run and also able to aim a bottle so successfully at the constable. He also put up a strenuous resistance for some time. The assault was very serious and grave indeed, and it was impossible to look lightly upon the offences. Williams was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment for stealing the cream, the term to be concurrent with the term for the assault. Fdr resisting Constable Baker Williams was convicted and discharged.

Accused wits also ordered to pay £1 Is. doctor’s expenses.