“FIVE MINUTES ALONE”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 143, 7 September 1927, Page 16

“FIVE MINUTES ALONE”

PRISONER AND THE SUN REPORTER INTERVIEW NOT GRANTED (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH:, Tuesday. When Thomas Albert Cox had been fined and placed on probation for 12 months by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Police Cour*t today, he expressed a yearning to have five minutes alone with THE SUN reporter. Had the interview been granted this story might never have been written. C OX who said among other things that he was a personal friend of the King, caused a. mild sensation in court recently when he was charged with stealing the Mayor’s coat. This time he appeared oa a charge of stealing another overcoat valued at. £4 10s, the property of Kenneth Matheson, on August 9. “Really X think this man is a bit touched,” said the magistrate, when he had heard how Cox had stolen the coat from outside a ‘second-hand’ shop. “I’ll inflict a monetary fins and also place him under the control of the probation oflieer. This is his last chance.”

Cox was accordingly fined £3 with costs in default two months’ imprisonment with hard labour, ordered to pay 15s to the second-hand dealer and admitted to probation for 12 months. Meanwhile Cox glowered at the Press bench. “I’ll be over at you bunch in a minite," he observed. When the penalty was indicted and the court rose, Cox came to the end of the long desk. “I’d like to get among you,” he said and then turned to give particular attention to THE SUN reporter. ‘Keep all that stuff out ol: the paper, will you?” ”1 might.” was the reply. “Gee, I’d like to have you alone for five minutes,” breathed Cox as he went out.