BENEFACTORS ROBBED

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12356, 28 January 1926, Page 4

BENEFACTORS ROBBED

EIGHT CHARGES OF THEFT CULPRIT BENT TO PRISON. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, January 27.. William Hart (47) is a man who evidently does not understand just what gratitude is, as was evidenced at the Police Court this morning when he appeared on eight charges of theft of articles comprising Tawn mowers, clocks, garden hose, tea trays, an attache case, brushes, mirrors, a lady’s dress, boots, cutlery, etc., of a total value of £2O 6s. To all these charges be pleaded guilty. > Detective O’Sullivan, who arrested Hart, said that Hart admitted stealing the goods and selling most of them to second-hand dealers. Senior-Detective Hammond said that one could hardly say a single word in Hart’s favour. In one case, where a lady gave him work, he called at her house during her absence and stole her lawn mower. In another case he stale a length of gardtn hose from the house of another kindly disposed man who provided him with work and money. Hart also received some assistance from the Rev. Father Brennan and the Rev. Cecil Watson, but instead of showing appreciation the accused stole Father Brennan’s clock from his church, and stole goods from Mr Watson’s house. Hart had been in and out of prison since 1912. The magistrate (Mr J. W. Poynton): The only way is to keep him in gaol for as long as possible. He seems to have made up nis mind to prey on society—three years’ reformative detention.