DRINK CAUSES THEFTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16307, 23 December 1920, Page 7

DRINK CAUSES THEFTS.

A YOUNG MAN’S CONFESSION.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

Theft of £7O in money and various articles was charged against Ivan Murdoch, a young man of good appearance, who appeared before Mr Y. G. Day, S.M., m the Magistrate’s Court today. Mr 0. T. J. Alpers appeared for accused.

Tiro details of tiro charges are as follow, the value of the articles mentioned being stated in parent hesosOn November 130, at Christchurch, stealing from tho Clarendon Hotel a pair of opera glasses., an amethyst necklace and a silk scarf (£2O), the property of Jane Triggs; also on the same date stealing from the dwellinghonse of the Misses Hampton’, at tho corner of Cashel and Montreal Streets, a leather suitcase (70s), a leather music roll (23s)‘, pair of military hair-brushes (255), a pearl tiepin (37s Cd), an opal ring (£8 8s), a fancy shirt (27s 6d), n. suit of tussore silk pyjamas (30s), suit of Fuji silk pyjamas (37s fid), three pairs of hand-knitted socks (255), two silk handkerchiefs (10s), a silk kerchief (7s Cel), four tics (265), two pairs of silk socks (Os 6d), a singlet (los 9d), calendar (3b tkß, a pink striped shirt (loa). black leather wallet (32s Od), stamp wallet (16s), and £7O in money, the property of Vincent Carlyle Coffey Clarke.

Jane Triggs, a wickae, residing at the Clarendon Hotel, said that on' November 30 last she had stolon from a j'Jmst of drawers in her bedroom tho articles produced—a scarf, an amethyst pendant and a pair of opera glasses, valued at £2O.

Vincent 0- C. Clarke, a salesman in tho employ of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operalivo Association, Ltd., and residing at the house of tho Misses Hampton, stated that on November 30 last he had the hag and articles mentioned and £7O in money stolen from his bedroom. Tho accused was in the habit of visiting him occasionally at hia lodgings. Herbert Edward Knight, a detective stationed at Auckland, -staled that on December .17, in consequence of information received from Detective-Ser-geant. Qmvrtermain. bo interviewed the accused at Auckland and' obtained the statement produced. The whole of the stolon property was returned to him by the accused. Accused gave his confession quite candidly and did,' not cause any trouble. In tho statement accused said that he iook the suitcase and a, quantity of property, also the £7O in monov, from the "dwelling of the Misses. Hampton. He also Took from a bedroom in the- Clarendon the binoculars, necklace and black scarf produced. Ho sent all tho property to Auckland by, pest, where it was taken possession of by Detective Knight. Ho committed the offences 'while under tho influence of liquor and did hot realise what ho had done until lie recovered from its effects. It was hia full intention to return the stolen property to its owners after- his arrival in Auckland. Ho expressed the determination that tho offence would ho Ills last one and that ho would comply wilh any terms of probation gran ted to him. Accused was committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence. Bail was allowed, n deposit being dispensed with on condition, that accused reported regularly to a probation officer.