DISHONEST LIFE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20503, 22 August 1936, Page 8

DISHONEST LIFE

ENGLISHMAN IN TROUBLE .. By Telegraph. Pres? Association AUCKLAND, August 21. An Englishman, Edward Arthur Knox (28), described on the charge sheet in the Police Court as a remittance man, admitted a series of systematic thefts from hotel bedrooms In different parth of New Zealand. Immaculately dressed, accused pleaded guilty to eight charges of stealing sums of money ranging from 10/- to £3O in notes, and jewellery, etc., of the total value of £l7. Detective Murch stated that when interviewed in an Auckland hotel, accused admitted the offences, stating that he was a native of Birmingham, and arrived in Wellington by the Tainui in April last. He went to Coromandel gold prospecting, and later stole £6 In notes "rom a bedroom of the Hotel Stonehurst, Auckland. He went to Sydney, and while returning in August met Mrs Richardson, an American tourist, and her daughter, at the Hotel St. George, Wellington. He noticed that Mrs Richardson had diamond ring:: and he wanted to get them in order to return to England. He took her suitcase away to the Midland Hotel, but on opening it did not find diamond rings, but other jewellery and property. Senior Detective Hall said that accused also .rad admitted stealing a gold watch, a cigarette case and a match container from a Swiss doctor in Sydney. He also told the police he went on a pleasure cruise to Noumea on the Wanganella, and stole from the cabin, Mr Wyvern Wilson said that the case was not one for probation .prisoner having set out to lead a dishonest life. A sentence of eight months’ imprisonment was passed, one month cumulative on each of the eight charges