CHURCHES BROKEN INTO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21994, 20 June 1941, Page 4

CHURCHES BROKEN INTO

Offences In Timaru Young Man’s Career In Crime “Crooks and Crime” was the title of a book found in the possession of Nell Oliver Moore, aged 19, who was arrested in Timaru last week on a series of charges, which he admitted before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday. During a short sojourn in Timaru, accused broke into two churches, stole two sums of money from different persons, also an electric generator, and had intentions of marrying a girl whom he met on the day he arrived in the town, but his arrest cut his career short. Accused was charged with a breach of his probation by failing to report to the police at Hastings, and falling to make restitution of £ll-15-9; with the theft, on June 10, at Timaru of 15/-, the property of Alfred Trevail Robinson; with the theft on June 9, at Timaru, of an electric generator valued at 15/-, the property of Athol Ernest Marsden; with the theft of £3, the property of Elizabeth Mclntosh; and with the theft at Hastings, on March 8, of £B, the property of John Charles Moore. Two further charges were preferred against the accused, one of breaking and entering St. Mary’s Church, Timaru, and committing theft; and the other of breaking and entering Chalmers Church with intent to commit theft. Detective Sergeant E. M. Thomas asked that the name of the accused be amended from Williams to Moore. He remarked that the accused commenced his career in New Plymouth, where he was convicted of theft, of obtaining credit by fraud and with being idle and disorderly He was admitted to probation, and went to Hastings, where he stole £8 from his step-father, who had hidden the money in a tin in the garage. Accused then went to Wellington, where he obtained employment in two hotels under the name of Fremont. He then came to Timaru, and booked in at a hotel under the name of Quinn. He incurred a debt for board, but after 24 hours was asked to leave as he had no money with which to pay. He then committed the offences with which he was charged, with the object of obtaining money. He had intentions of getting married to a young woman whom he met the day he arrived in Timaru. He had no money and no job, but had in his possession when arrested a book entitled “Crooks and Crime.” Detective Sergeant Thomas described the accused as a very irresponsible type of young man. Referring to the theft of the £3, Detective Sergeant Thomas said that the accused went into a shop, and while the proprietress was absent, he took the money out of the till. Accused pleaded guilty to all the minor charges. The Probation Officer (Mr R. G. Sampson) informed the Court that the Probation Officer in Hastings considered that the accused merited a term in the Borstal Institute. Indictible Charges The evidence on the indictible charges was then heard. Charles Shalles, verger of St. Mary’s Church, said that about 8 pan. on June 8, he locked the church, everything then being in order. About 8.30 the following morning he found that tw r o lead-light windows had been broken. Inside the church he found an alms box broken open, but he could not say whether the box had contained money. Witness identified a screwdriver, produced, as one which was missing from the cellar of the church. Detective S. W. Cunningham gave evidence as to having Interviewed the accused, who made a statement, in which he admitted having broken into St. Mary’s Church by pushing in a window with his hand, which he cut in the process. He entered the church for the express purpose of stealing, as he wanted money. He broke open an alms box and took 3/3 from it. Giving evidence of the second charge, Eric Tennant Baird, accountant, said that he was envelope secretary for Chalmers Church. About 8.30 on June 8 he locked the church and visited it again about 12.5 p.m. the following day. The church was still locked, but he noticed a broken leadlight window. As far as he knew, nothing was stolen from the church. Detective Cunningham produced a statement made by the accused in which he admitted the offence. The detective added that the screwdriver which was stolen from St. Mary’s was found below the broken window at Chalmers Church. Accused, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was committed to the Supreme Court in Timam for sentence. On the minor charges, accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence on July 17. *