RACES BROKE HIM, SO HE TURNED BURGLAR

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18011, 23 November 1926, Page 1

RACES BROKE HIM, SO HE TURNED BURGLAR

MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGES OF THEFT. “I committed the offencea because I wanted money—l went broke at the races and was out of -work.” This was the explanation made in a statement to the police by Leonard Wright, aged 27, who appeared at the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr F. H. Christian, J.P., and Mr H. F. Herbert, J.P., and pleaded guilty to the following charges:— That on November 12, at Riccar,ton, he broke and entered by day the dwelling of Agnes Dixon Leslie and stole jewellery and money of a total value of £24 7s 6d. That on November 21, at Addington he attempted to break and enter by night the house of Canon W. S. Bean with intent to commit a crime. That on November 20, at Riccarton, he stole two chisels valued at 5s 6d, the property of Alfred Aldwin Harper. Jane Anne Bean said that at 12.30 a.m. on November 21 her daughter came to witness’s room and told her that a man was looking in at the scullery window. Witness went upstairs to a window 7 and saw- a man crouching against the ay in do w downstairs. He was wearing a light cap, but she could not see his face. Witness then rang up the police. Jeannie S. Bean said that she heard step below her window and later saw a man breaking in the scullery window. He went from one window to another and seemed to stay there for a long time. Just before the police came she saw the man go out the back gate. Later on, she found that the netting over the pantry window was cut. Accused: I never had my hands near the window. Sergeant Stewart, who answered Mrs BeAn’s call, said that he caugh sight of a light cap in the hedge op posite St Mary’s Church. He w’ent over and found accused lacing up his boots. Witness asked him what he was doing and accused replied, “Can’t a man lace up his boots.” Accused was then arrested, and on being searched two chis els were found in his pocket in. addition to a gold watch, a greenstone brooch and three returned soldier badges. Agnes Dixon Leslie, 93, Waimain Road, said that on November 12 she and her husband went to the shov. .soon after nine in the morning. The house was locked with the exception of ftlie pantry window, which had been ?left open for ventilation. On return ■ipg home she found that her jewel cage, ■some jewellery and £IS 10s in hath beell stole ii . . In a statement .JUiade lo Acting-De tective Studholme, accused admitted the offences. He stated that he wa. broke through race losses and had gone to Canon Bean's to see if there wa. any food in the.pantry. On. the breaking and entering charges Wright was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, but oi. the charge of stealing chisels he wa. 1 sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment