BURGLAR WHO REFORMED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 3 (Supplement)

BURGLAR WHO REFORMED

GIVEN A FRESH START SUCCESS IN BUSINESS Mr. Hay Halkett, the Marylebone magistrate, was told lately of the reformation and success in trade of a man who some years ago was convicted of j burglary. The man, aged 38, a flower-seller, was accused of attempting to steal a motorcar, or alternatively, of tampering with the mechanism. Mr. Halkett came to the conclusion that the accused had been guilty of a " drunken freak," and fined him 20s 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 touchy the car he said that it was his pal's. The car, however, was found to belong to Mrs. B. Fleetwood Walker, Marylebone. Accused said that he had been out with some friends, had had too much to drink, and in his muddled state believed that tho car was his pal's. It was staled that accused had been convicted three times of burglary and house-breaking, but a detective explained that since 1921 he had been working honestly and was a much-respected tradesman in Marylebone. Mr. Boswell, the court missionary, said that after a conviction in 1921 accused went to him downhearted and despondent and said that he wanted to start afresh. Witness found the accused a " pitch," and assisted him to 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 he was to-day in a substantial position and running his own car. The magistrate said that the story was very creditablo both to the accused and to Air. Boswell.