CRIMINAL KEPT DOOR LOCKED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19241, 1 December 1930, Page 7

CRIMINAL KEPT DOOR LOCKED.

AUSTRALIAN “ CROOK ” GIVEN TERM IN GAOL. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, November 29. Joseph Marr, aged twenty-nine years, a labourer, was charged in the police court to-day with being an idle and disorderly person with insufficient means of support. Marr, well-known as a criminal because of his njfeny convictions in Australia, preferred to keep the room which he rented from a Grey Avenue landlandy securely locked, and he tacked a “ keep out ” notice on his door. Susan Griffiths, of 137, Grey Avenue, said she knew Marr. He went to stop at her house a little over three weeks ago and when he rented the room from her he said he preferred to clean it out himself. “He asked me for the key,” added witness, “ so I gave it to him. I told him at the time that I did notjAike men doing out their own rooms, because some of them swept everything up into one corner. (Laughter.) I said I would sooner keep it clean myself. He told me he did not want anyone to go into his room. After he had been 'there a few days I saw a notice on the door. It read ‘ keep out.’ About this time I was advised not to have Mr Marr in my house, but still I thought I would give him a fair go and did not say anything to him. Then when I found that he was coming and going by the window of his room and that he was keeping his door locked I went to the police. I’m in the house on mv own and I’ve got to protect myself.” Mr Noble: Marr paid you for the room?—Oh yes. But I can tell you what he gave me was worth cleaning up the room, for there were egg shells thrown on top of the wardrobe and —well, you should have seen the mess. (Laughter.) To the Magistrate, Mrs Griffiths said that when Marr took the room he told her that he did not work. After Detective Moon had given evidence, counsel asked: “Do you suggest that you can arrest a man who is out of employment?” No, but when thieves come here from Australia and don’t work we want to know how they are living. Counsel submitted that there was no case against Marr. There was no evidence to show he was engaged in any crime. All that could be said about him was that he was out of employment. “ Are you going to leave your case at that, Mr Noble?” asked the Magistrate. “ Yes, sir. I will,” said counsel. Mr Hunt: Well, he’s sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. That will keep him out of the way over Christmas. I know this man myself. He’s an Australian thief with a list of previous convictions as long as your arm.” “ I’m a first timer here anyway,” muttered Marr as he was leaving tfie dock, meaning, of course, that this was his first conviction in the Dominion.