COURT CONFESSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21983, 14 December 1934, Page 5

COURT CONFESSION

ACCUSED YOUTH CLEARED REMARKABLE INCIDENT ' A witness in a Sydney Court recently confessed that he, and not the accused man, had robbed another man of his watch and chain. He was indicted and sentenced to imprisonment. Judge Curlewis said that the incident was one of the most remarkable in his experience. Edward We.vman, aged 18, was charged with stealing a watch, chain and a medal from Herbert William Avery Hind at Matraville, and of receiving the property. Accused said that a man had given him a chain and medal to sell. Terence O'Shea, aged 34, labourer, in the witness box, confessed to tho theft, and said that he gave the chain and medal to Weyman. The Crown indicted O'Shea for the theft of the watch, chain, and medal, and he pleaded guilty, Weyman being discharged; The Crown Prosecutor said he did not think that O'Shea committed the theft. Hind, in evidence, said that O'Shea was not the mail who robbed him. The thief was 18 to 20 years of age. "My memory is failing if the accused is the man who robbed me," said Hind. "1 thought ho was a taller man." Hind: How did you go to attack me ? O'Shea: 1 walked up in front of you and asked you the name of a street. Then I grabbed your watch chain and ran. Hind: You did not mention the naming of a street. O'Shea said that he saw Hind earlier in the night in another street, which he named. He was walking about there. Hind: That 's correct. I was waiting there for half an hour. The Judge sentenced O'Shea to six months' imprisonment. "In view of your honesty and candour in making this confession I am letting you off very lightly," His Honor added.