PERFECT BUTLER

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 14

PERFECT BUTLER

GOLD CIGARETTE CASE STOLEN. \ UNFORTUNATE PRIVATE LIFE. Said to have been described as “a perfect butler when he behaved himself,” George Hales, Westminster, was at London recently sentenced to six months’ hard labour for stealing a gold cigarette case, set with sapphires, valued at £320, the property of Miss Jane Sanford, says tire News-Chronicle. Detective Sinclair said that Miss Sanford was a wealthy American in England for the London season. In celebration. of Independence Day, July 4, she gave a party at her address, and the large number of guests necessitated the engaging of extra staff, Hales being one of those employed as a waiter. About 3 a.m. Miss Sanford left her case on a table and went out of the room to look after her guests. She fetumed about 4 a.m. and found the case missing. She made no inquiries at the time as she did not wish to upset the party, and later searched the house in vain. had been serving at her table, and further inquiries showed that he had remained in the house after the other extra waiters had gone. At a public house in Edgeware Road witness saw a young woman take out a case and offer a friend a cigarette.

Tlie detective produced a small, square gold cigarette case, each comer of which was studded with several rows of Sapphires. He said that he asked the young woman where she got it, and she told him that she had received it from a friend named George. The police were satisfied that she had acted quite innocently, thinking the case was not of value, and she had shown it to a number of friends. He interviewed Hales, who said: “I am sorry. I do not know why I did it." “He has,been described as a perfect butler and a perfect waiter when ,he behaves himself,” said the detective. “There has been some misfortune in his private life. He parted from his wife, and since then has not seemed to care what happens.”