SNEAK THIEF’S RECORD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17348, 13 May 1924, Page 11

SNEAK THIEF’S RECORD.

FEEBLE OLD MAN IN COURT John O’Brien, a feeble, bent, old men with an extraordinary record of crime, hobbled into the dock at the Supreme Court yesterday, with the help of a stick, to answer a charge of having stolen a suit-case containing Indies' underclothing, valued at £3, from Holmes's Boarding-house, Manchester Street, on April 19 last. After the jury had convicted him. it was disclosed that there were no fewer than sixty previous convictions against him, and that, forty-three or forty-four were for theft. Mr. Donnelly. Crown Prosecutor, said that O’Bron belonged to the sneak-thief type of criminal, who prowled about hotels and boardinghouses, where they were many opportunities for theft. The jury recommended O’Brien to mercy on account of his age. but. Air Justice Adams said that the long list of convictions prevented him from acting on the recommendation. The record had been made since 1910. when O’Brien arrived in New Zealand as a stowaway. Mr. Donnelly said that O’Brien had an Australian record in addition to his New Zealand one. Chief-Detective Gibson saw him stealing from a shop in Christchurch, and arrested him. He thieved all the time. His Honor: Whatever his record is, he may be suffering from incapacity. Mr Donnelly said that O’Brien never had been known to do any work. Chief-detective Gibson had stated that his limp was caused by a broken leg, sustained when he was running away after having stolen a pair of boots. Mr Lascelles. who appeared for O’Brien, said that he explained that after his last discharge from gaol he applied for admission to a home, but was refused, as it was crowded; he was given os, which soon went, and nothing was left to him but to steal. His Honor said that O’Brien, doubtless. had broken nil friendships, was unable to earn, and must steal or beg. There was no power for the Court to commit him to an institution ; he did not know’ if one was available. The only course seemed to he to declare him an habitual criminal. Mr Donnelly said that in that case the authorities could deal with him. O’Brien was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, and declared an habitual criminal.