Posed as Tinker, and Broke Into Many Houses.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 9

Posed as Tinker, and Broke Into Many Houses.

MOORE’S METHOD WAS TO SMASH LEADLIGHTS AND UNFASTEN CATCH OF DOORS

HENRY PATRICK MOORE pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court to-day to seven charges of breaking and entering and theft, and one charge of breaking and entering with intent to commit theft. He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on all the charges bv Messrs Clifton Bingham, J.P., and H. Holland, M.P., J.P. Moore, who assumed the role of a deaf mute, canvassed from door to door and wherever possible, it was alleged, lie entered houses and took what he wanted. His fancy ranged from jewellery and clothes down to a tot of whisky.

According to tlie police, accused had adopted a system in connection with his thefts. He called from house to house and, where people were at home he produced & book with the following statement written inside :

“Sir or Madem, —I, James Moran, the unfortunate bearer of this circular, am sufering to an injurey am unable either to speak or hear distintly. lam a married man with three children and am at present out of work. “ I am trying to earn my living an support my famely by going from house to house sharpening and repearing scissors, knives, axes, saws, tools, allso lawn mower’s. “I appeal to you, sir or madem, to give me work or to help fciie live as lam practley penny less. Hopeing sir or madem that you will give me work or help me live. I remain, your mosthumble servent, James Moran.” For a week, said the police, Moran had a free run, but when paying a call in the Sydenham district, he was caught by a woman who followed him into a neighbour’s house and finally informed the police. Moore, who is thirty-eight years of age, came from Ireland. He is a miner by occupation. He did not apply for bail.

The Charges. Moore was not represented by counsel. The charges were read as follows : (1) May 10—Breaking and entering the premises of James Gray, 239, Colombo Street, with intent to commit theft. (2) May# 3 —Broke and entered the home of Dorothy Margaret Gilbert, 16, River Road, and committed theft. (3) May 3—Broke and entered the home of John Chaplin, 265, River Road, and committed theft. (4) Broke and entered the home of Melba Ballirr, 419, Cambridge Terrace, and committed theft. (5) May s—Broke and entered the home of Barbara Steeds, 274, Kilmore Street, and committed theft. (6) May B—Broke and entered the home of Margaret Wright, 39, Rhodes Street, and committed theft. (7) May 9—Broke and entered the home of George Guild Ferguson. 33, Edinburgh Street, and committed theft. (8) May 9—Broke and entered the home of John Henry Fisher, 31, Kilmarnock Street, and committed theft.

The Police Case. Chief-Detective Carroll said that the thefts covered a. period of a week and were all admitted by accused. The method used had been practically the same in every case. Accused, who was travelling as a tinker and repairer,

broke leadlights over doors or the glass in windows near the catch. He would then open either the window or the door and would take what he wanted. In all about £lO4 worth of goods and jewellery had been taken. On the day he was caught, accused called at a house in Sydenham and sharpened some scissors. Later he went into a house which was temporarily unoccupied. An investigation was made and accused came out of the house. He was followed and was finally arrested. Accused had posed as a deaf and dumb mute and had written in a notebook a request for work. Miss D. Gray said that on May 10 she went out in the afternoon, having left the house securely locked up. When she returned she found the front door open, the kitchen window open and the scullery window broken beneath the latch, and upfastened. The drawers were all open in the bedrooms, but nothing was missing. Caught In the Act. Minnie Kerr, a married woman, living in Colombo Street, Sydenham, said that at noon on May 10 accused called at her home. She gave him two pairs of scissors to sharpen. lie later passed down the road. Half an hour later he was seen to enter the property of James Gray. Witness -went into Gray’s place and found a little case accused carried near the back door. She noticed that a window was broken and she went round to the front of the house. The front door was then open. Witness handed the case to the police. Amelia Emily Kerr and Mary Elizabeth Crawford corroborated the evidence of the previous witnesses. Frederick Charles Wells gave evidence that he followed accused after receiving certain information and hnally detained him. Accused said, \ou don’t want me,” but witness detained him until he was arrested. Whisky Bottle Opened. Dorothy Margaret Gilbert said that her house had been broken into. The sideboard doors were open and other articles displaced. A wine glass had been moved and a bottle of whisk-y in the pantry had received attentipn. The only thing missing from the house was the key of the back door. John Chapman said that articles were missing from his house. Among the principal items were a suit o 4 clothes and a suitcase. Elizabeth Carr gave evidence that two rings and a brooch had been taken from her dressing table. She valued them at £ls or £l6. Two diamond rings and a gold wristI let watch were missing from her home, said Melba Ballin. The total value of the articles was about £33. Barbara Steeds said that her place had been ransacked. Two sovereigns, fifteen shillings in silver and an overcoat were missing. She identified the coat produced as the property of her