REFORMED EX-BURGLAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 10

REFORMED EX-BURGLAR

NOW RESPECTED TRADESMAN. LONDON, July 13. Mr. Hay Halkett, the Marylebone magistrate, was told, on Saturday of .he reformation and success in trade of a man who some, years ago was convicted of burglary. ' Tho man, Charles Kelnian, 38, flowerseller. Great Barlow Street, Marylebone, was now accused of attempting io steal a, motor-car, or>alternatively,-of tampering witli the mechanism. Mr. Halkett came to the conclusion that Kelnian had., been guilty of a “drunken freak,” and fined him 20/-. A constable said that he found accused' sitting in .the car trying all the controls in turn. ' He‘had been drinking and complained that it would not go. Asked what authority he had to touch the car, he said that it was his pal’s. The car, however, was found to belong to Mrs. B. Fleetwood Walker, of Devonshire Terrace, Maryle-

bone. ' Kelmah said that he had been out with some friends, had had too much to drink, and in his muddled state believed that the car was his p.als.

It., was stated that accused had h&en convicted three times of burglary and house-breaking, but Detective Wyatt explained that since 1921 Kelnian had been working honestly. and was a much-respected tradesman in Marylebone.

Mr. Boswell, the court missionary, said that after a conviction in 1921 Kelnian went to him downhearted and despondent, and said that he wanted to start afresh. He (Mr. Boswell) fount? tho accused a “pitch,” and assisted him io get some flowers as stock. Since’ then he had worked so well, with the assistance of his. wife, and had proved himself such a keen business man, that ho was to-day in a substantial position and running his own car.

The magistrato said that it was very creditable both to the accused and to Mr. Boswell.