GIVEN A CHANGE.

NZ Truth, Issue 328, 7 October 1911, Page 6

GIVEN A CHANGE.

Stole to Stave off Starvation.

Bought Baby Bootees and a Bonnet,

When Christchurch faced its latest unemployed agitation the statement that many out-of-works and their families were actually starving fell upon heedless ears, but when Henry John Thackwell was asked m the Magistrate's Court the other daywhy he commandeered one guinea belonging to James McNicholls, of St. Albans, he said ho did it to buy food for his family. The hustle for a crust is strenuous and frequently the men left are those just below the efficiency line, physically and mentally. Thackwell is one of these. Chief Detective Bishop said that the sharp-eared accused heard Mrs McNicholls mention, apprehensively, that she had left some money m the house, and GOING SWIFTLY TO HER RESIDENCE he appropriated it. Henry John had. a wife and two youngsters, the youngest of whom was four months and the eldest saxteen months, and Henry was .characterised as a waster. In the circumstances it would be no use sending him to gaol. Magistrate Bishop said that one of the social organisations might take him m hand, and try and get him employment. "When did you last do any work ?"• he asked Henry. That individual replied "Saturday week, for the Domain Board, - ' and he could get work at the gardens on Monday. Appears that the trustees of a defunct philanthropist gave a sum of money to relieve the unemployed pressure, to ( be spent on the local gardens, and lu-iiry was profiting thereby. His Worship : Why did yon take this money ?— I was hard up and DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN THE HOUSE. I couldn't bear to see the wife and family like that. Suppose I send you to gaol for three months ? — I wouldn't like it at all. The Chief said the wife bad only just got over her second confinemeut, and there was probably some truth m what Henry said. Henry told the Court that he was twenty-four, suffered occasionally from pleurisy, and bad been married three years. The Chief : He has two children m that time. His Worship : Some of them are married three months and have two chil dren . ( Laughter . ) His Worship said he would give the man a chance on account of his unfortunate wife and youngsters, but warned bim that if there were any repetition of tbe offence it would be better for the woman and her family if he were m gaol. The Magistrate regarded with dubious expression the statement that a man twenty-four years of age hi a Community like this which contains so many people m good circumstances should have to steal because there was nothing to eat m the house. "What did you buy with it ?" he asked. "Meat and groceries,:' replied Henry, "and a ba.by's bonnet and bootees." "A baby's bonnet and bootees ?'* queried the Magistrate, sternly. Henry (falteriugly) : Tbe baby is very weak, and the wife thought it might help it up a bit. The wife here put m an a.ppenrancc carrying the infant, which was wearing the bonnet . and bootees referred to. She was twenty-live, she srtid, and HENRY WAS NOT /V (JKUtX HUSBAND. His Worship : What is tbe trouble? — He had pleurisy twice — it's hard luck. He says there was nothing m the house and he wanted to buy thin s "That's- right," she replied, adding that she thought _ the cash was money owing for wages. His Worship : I'm going to let him oft* for your sake. — Thank you, sir. Henry said he would pay t»je boned lucre back by Saturday week, and was convicted and discharged.