HABITUAL CRIMINAL'S THEFTS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 38, 13 August 1921, Page 6

HABITUAL CRIMINAL'S THEFTS

MAGISTERIAL COMMENT. ■ ■•■'■ '■' L • ■ ■■ /

■ The release of. a declared hftbitual criminal on probationaryi license formed the subject of oommeßt by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court this morning in a case in which William T. Burridge pleaded guilty to three charges of theft, and a further charge of breaking the conditions of hi 6 prabationary license. «

Acting-Chief Detective Andrews stated that,, on 4fch August accused stole an overcoat and a hat, of the total value of £4 4s 6d, the property of R. J. Means, ifrom a room at the Central Coffee Palace, .in Cuba-street. On the same day he also visited the, Troeadero Private Hotel, and from. outside a bedroom ho took a pair of boots, valued at £3, belonging to one !F. J. Porter. Burridge also stole on the same day an overcoat valued at £5, the property of some person unknown. In respect to the last charge, no claim had been made for the overcoat, and accused was unable to say where ho got it., The stolen articles had been, sold to second-hand dealers, but the boots and the overcoat mentioned in the first charge had not been recovered. Unfortunately for accused, he had a very long list of previous convictions.- , ' . .I. ■'" „'. •, . iHis Worship : "What did they let him oufcfor?" ! :

"Ho has, made a dismal failure on this occasion," remarked Acting-Chief Detective Andrews, "because he was discharged from, prison on> 4th July'on probationary license, and just about a month later we find him ■ committing these offences." ,

"Of course,". said the Magistrate, "he ia..a man who should never have been loosed at all." .

The Acting Chief-Detective: "Drink seems to have been his trouble." .' -,

His Worship: "He is declared an habitual criminal, and j then they let him, out again." ,

i Accused stated that He bad bom. in bad health, had been thirteen times in hospital, and had undergone four serious operations. \

Acting-Chief Detective Andrews said that accused had a sum of £10 to.come and go on, and there; was no oscasion for him to steal— ;

His Woiship imposed a sentence of six months' imprisonment on each of the first -two charges, the terms to be cumulative, and accused was convicted and dis-, charged on the other charges. "He is no good out at all," declared the Magistrate | "he is better out of the road." „" Is that twelve months you have given me?" inquired accused of his Worship., . ■■ ■

"Yes," replied the Majrisiratp; "you are an habitnal criminal already, and you will go back for »n indefinite period." '>'■*.'■