JEWEL THIEF GAOLED

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1930, Page 9

JEWEL THIEF GAOLED

BARGAINING FOR A REWARD REMA3KABLE.-AUCE3uA3SI> STORYw ■*•■•■ y - ! VA T JTKT.BSS-CHEQUES 'ALSO ISSUED By-Telegraph.—Press Association, ; ' ■ ' Auckland, Nov. 6. - The remarkable story of, a man who burgled a Remuera house, stole jewels and then endeavoured to induce the ownef to pay him £5O to return them was the Police Court when Clifford, Nelson Double, .aged 28, was charged with breaking, entering and theft of jewellery worth £4O, also with “corruptly bargaining for a reward in consideration;.of. helping in the recovery of the jewellery obtained by the theft.” Evidence was given by Mrs. Stapley that she received a letter card whose writer offered to return the jewellery if she made it worth his While. She was to reply tlrrough the personal column of a. newspaper. After’ consulting the police she replied_and subsequently ceived several, more letters in one of which the writer offered to send the name, and address of the thief and enough evidence to convict him of this and other crimes. He also told her that the thief was “a super crook” who was preparing to leave the Dominion f with her property, ; Her house was still under observation and, to, save herself trouble, «h 0 should, pay £5O. She offered £25. but heard noimore,. ....

Dcuble pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. He also pleaded guilty, with a young woman named Kathleen Marlay, to obtaining £l4 by two valueless cheques.

-The police said he wrote the cheques and got Marlay to-’cash them. He was Jan; habitual criminal.:. • ! Double was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. Marlay was remanded for report, the magistrate saying she had been under Double’s domination.

IK is" -understood the .police -when handed the valueless cheques discovered the handwriting was thq same, as that on the anonymous Icttcicards received .by Mrs. Stapley.'