A SUCCESSFUL BEGGAR

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 91, 19 November 1936, Page 2

A SUCCESSFUL BEGGAR

A one-legged shoemaker who was said to have collected about. £5OOO in Ove years by asking people to subscribe the cost of an artificial limb, was sentenced at I.on don Sessions to twentyone months’ imprisonment, says the Daily Telegraph. The man -was Edward Lawrence, 25, •j native of South Wales, who was found guilty of attempted housebreaking. Mr Laurence Vine, prosecuting, said that a mai l in a house in Platts Lane, Hampstead, heard a key being tried in the lock and notified the police. Officers went to the lane and saw Lawiciici* \ isit a number of houses. lie tohl them that be was collecting for an artificial log. Lawrence, in the witness-box, was questioned about a document, found in his possession. It contained notes on various houses, stating that they had jewellery in them, the number of maids and their habit-, and the opportunities of geting into the houses. One extract read: “Being :• lady-in-waiting, she should have some expensive jewellery. As there are only two maids, find what rmo is out, and get one in the kitchen.” Lawrence sain that he made out lhe document ten months ago. and had abandoned the idea entirely. Detective-Sergeant Wheeler stated tb; i Lawrence’s real name was Reginild Sni y, and that he had b < n conicted igbt previous occ: ;vas senii'nced to eighteen months’ hard abour last. year. Referring to the document, the offi?er said: “Figures on the paper indicate that he has been earning bv this neans fcollecting money, to buy an irtificia! leg) something in the neighbourhood of £lOOO a year for five The officer said that Lawrence had •ollected 6/- in half an hour on the lay he was arrested.