HONOUR OF A BURGLAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

HONOUR OF A BURGLAR.

THEFT IN WARTIME. AMENDS AFTER 13 YEARS. From time to time instances have been brought to notice of thioves who have become conscience-stricken, and have returned to owners articles which they learnt through tho newspapers had a sentimental value. Far different, however, is a case related by Mrs. Stuart Moss; of Wem,' Shropshire, who suffered loss of goods through a burglary at her provision stores at Church Stretton in June, 1917, and after a lapse oi'*over 13 years lias received a sum of money from the offender as recompense.

In the war Mrs. Moss had her husband and all her male relatives under 60 years of age serving with one or other of the services, and she lived with her staff over the shop. In tho early hours of tho morning the window was smashed, and 14 tins of salmon, fruit and biscuits, and a bottle of lime juice were stolen. Tho police traced the culprit, who was tried at Quarter Sessions, and, as a result of an appeal for leniency by Mrs. Moss, was handed over to the Army instead of being sent to prison. Mrs. Moss recently received a letter through tho cliiof constable from tho man she had been bound to prosecute. lie wrote:— " Sometime in 1917 I broke a window and took some goods from 's grocery stores in Church Stretton. I don't know what the damage was, but I am enclosing a sum of money. I havo been to Church Stretton, but find the shop has changed hands. A man told me Mrs. Moss was tho proprietor in 1917, but she's gone away. Pleaso hand this money to Mrs. Moss, or whoever is entitled to it. If yon can't find anybody to givo it to put it in the poor box." Mrs. Moss says she regards the writer of the letter as a man of honour, fit to number among one's acquaintances, and sho would like him to know that as a thank-offering she-has divided £5 between tho county infirmary and tho institution for crippled children.