A FRANK CONFESSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 15

A FRANK CONFESSION.

CHRISTCHURCH, February 75. Fiankncss was a virtue possessed by a thief who made frequent visits to a house in St. Albans. He even refunded some of the money he had stolen. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day he pleaded that he was destitute and homeless. Charles Arthur Kirk, a clerk. 27 years of age, born in Ireland, pleaded guilty before Mr E. D. Mosley. S.M., to a charge that on January 31 he broke and entered the house of George Spiers ami stole £2, the property of James Spiers. George Spiers, a widower, residing in Edgeware road, St. Albans, said that during the day when no one was at his house he left the front door key in a shed-, which he also locked. James Spiers, son of the former witness. . said that he had missed 30s from the house about six months ago. This sum was returned to him the next morning by Kirk/ who said that he iiad been hard up. Small sums had been missed since, and about January 31 the sum of £2 was taken from a box. • Accused : When I explained that I was hard up and returned the money didn’t you say you would let it stand at that? V. itness: Yes, but you went back again’, and I caught you at the door. The police evidence was that accused admitted the thefts, and stated: “I have been out of work for six months, and I am living apart from my wife, to whom I have to pay £2 a week. I stole the money to help me to pay my way. I always entered the house in the afternoon.” Asked if he had anything to say. accused replied : “I had been out of work. I had no home to go to. With these few words I just want to say that 1 was destitute. , Kirk was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.