AN UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANT

Southland Times, Issue 16840, 16 September 1911, Page 6

AN UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANT

CHARGED WITH THEFT. At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., Prank -Sinclair Kennerley was charged on the information of Detective Cameron (1) witn theft at Lumsden on 11th September of a gold watch-chain valued at £4, the property of Eric Mac-Plierson, and (2) that On lath July at Invercargill, with intent to defraud by means of a certain false pretence, to wit, by stating that he was employed by Herbert, Haynes and Co. did obtain of and from one William Buchanan board and lodgings to the value of ISs. Detective Cameron explained that Kennerley, who was 30 years of ago, came to the district about July last, anti had since being going about boarding houses and failing to pay for his board. The detective knew of at least three such places. When accused sought to -obtain board from -Air Buchanan lie stated that be was employed by Messrs Herbert, Haynes and Co., straightening up the books, and in three days’ time he left without paying his board. Accused also owed money at Lutnsdc-n and Winton. At the former place wiien lie was turned out of tiie hotel lie had been taken in by a young man who took pity on him. Accused showed bis gratitude by stealing his benefactor’s watch chain. He appeared to have taken the first available train to Dipton where lie sold the chain. He had been arrested at Dipton. Accused had been out from England about three years, and had been employed as a hotel porter at Dunedin. He never appeared to look for work and had not done any work lately so far as the police were aware. Kennerley pleaded guilty to . both offences and consented to be dealt witli summarily. He said that lie was a silversmith by trade and was looking for work at Lumsden. He had worked at gardening in the Waikato district at Hamilton, and had been u hotel porter In Aiartinborough. The Magistrate commented on t lie fact that it was a notorious fact that a good many cases of theft which had como under notice recently had been committed by young men who had conic from England. At tiie request of Detective- Cameron lie remanded the accused for a week to enable the police to make enquiries in Dunedin as to iiHib'y's behaviour in that city.