A TOOTH-WORRYING THIEF.

NZ Truth, Issue 266, 30 July 1910, Page 6

A TOOTH-WORRYING THIEF.

Feats.of a Christchurch Dentist.

Victim of the Cocaine Habit.

A careful study of Christchurch would, lead the casual observer to believe that the city . breaks into crime naturally m its spare time. It is probably due to excessive religpous instruction and mention of sin, the concentration of thought uyon sinfulness being unwholesome and liable to encourage a desire to test the thing, like the person who disregards a "Wet Paint" sign and puts bis finger on the doubtful spot to make sue. It is certainly a fact that the • most unexpected persons take on burglary as a pastime m the holy city ; the practice of shoplifting is. discouraged by a hefty Mil sent m to the husband or near relative afterwards ; persons who can't, make their cash right un the office, yet who never see a police court, are deplorably on the increase; and people pick jup overcoats, boots, etc., from the shop fronts and put them on going ) down the street.

For some time past the police have been puzzled by a "series of blirgjaries m the city and suburbs, their temporary failure to detect the ■ culprit being due to the fact that he was a person who had apparently no occasion to be a burglar, and had no earthly use for ' lots of the things taken. At length Acting-Tec. Osborne placed a gentle but firm hand on a youthful dentist named William John Grose, and obtained from him a confession of having committed no fewer than sixteen burglaries. The budding W. Sykes tried his 'prentice 'hands on the dentists 1 rooms m the city, which he probably knew well, and went through a number of them for instruments, gold for filling, cash, etc. Then he turned his attention to warehouses m. the. city and stores and shops m Linwood. Amongst his plunder were three "'diamonds" for glass-cutting, and as he obtained admission by windows their usefulness was fully demonstrated. The articles were such as Could be easily pocketed — expensive roller skates, carburetters, bicycle lamps, spectacles, dental tools, etc..

There was a remarkable gathering of gum-diggers m court when Grose was charged with the offences, and they are not nearly so fearsome m appearance as some faint-hearted toothache patients might imagine. Frank Fryer, the rep. three-qjuarter, who toy reason of his occupation and his (Saturday pastime might be mistaken for a gore-loving person, looked quite human, and his winning smile even inspired confidence. It is probable that the distinction enjoyed by the molarmauling profession of haying, produced a burglar was not thoroughly appreciated by the gathered knights of the forceps. Barrister Russell appeared for the young fellow, who pleaded guilty to all charges, and the necessary evidence was taken with comme'hdable celerity before two of the noble Unpaid; Under usual conditions the cases would last all day, but the police got the testimony, typed beforehand, the witnesses read it aloud m court, their signature was. attached to the statement, and ' the thing was done. The leaden foot of (Justice is getting rid of some of its dead weight.

In asking that the same baii he allowed (fioo and one surety of £100), Mr Russell mentioned that the father of G-xose occupied a good position and was a very respectable person. Counsel mentioned a matter which would probably be enlarged upon wfliert the case came before the Supreme Court, namely, that the amateur burglar was not normal when the offences were committed, as he was a victim of the cocaine and morphia habits ; also that lie had established a connection with people who had led him astray.

Chief 'Tee. Bishop mentioned that when the original l>ail was granted, one information only had Keen laid against the young man. Grose pleaded guilty to all charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was allowed m (£IOO and one surety of £100.

The accused looked; weary, and ill at the close of the proceedings, probably owing to & temporary . cessation m administering his favorite drug. Cocaine is largelt used m dentistry as a local anaesthetic, anh the danger of the injection habit is appreciated by mose stump .extractors. Grose suffered from insomnia, and when he dosed himself with cocaine he felt an irresistible desire to get up and do something. .He walked miles at iri-ght, he says, and all of his daring feats of breaking and entering were performed under the influence of the drug. No doubt he fo^hd plenty of cocaine on the dental 'premises illegally visited by him.