NUMEROUS THEFTS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 11

NUMEROUS THEFTS.

Committed Crimes while Intoxicated. HAD JUST COME FROM GAOL. Fourteen theft charges, involving goods to the total value of £75 10s. were preferred against John Arthur Crawford, a cook, 41 years of age, in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. He was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. The stolen goods, which were of great variety, were taken from motor-cars, shop show-cases, hotel and an antique dealer. Accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Chief-Detective Carroll stated that Crawford had been released from gaol on license, on February 10, and had commenced his series of thefts two days later. These continued for a fortnight, and Crawford was arrested on February 26, in the act of snatching a bag containing medical instruments from Dr J. D. Marks’s car. The arrest was made by Acting-Detective J. J. C. Edwards.

Accused had been more or less under the influence of liquor during the fortnight in which he committed the crimes, continued the chief-detective. The' Charges.

The charges, with the sentences imposed, were:—Stealing an overcoat, the property of Alexander Wildey, valued at 10s, on February 26, seven days’ imprisonment; stealing a brief-bag and contents, of a total value of £2 3s 6d, the property of Milford Bishop Skinner, on February 24, one month’s imprisonment; stealing a rug, valued at £l, the property of some person or persons unknown, on February 23, fourteen days’ imprisonment; stealing two rugs, valued at £1 6s 6d, the property of Jeannette Smith Hinds, on February 26, fourteen days’ imprisonment; stealing an overcoat, valued at 10s, the property of some person or persons unknown, on February 23, seven days’ imprisonment; stealing four cameras, valued at £ll 4s 6d, the property of Wallace and Co., Ltd., on February 12, six months’ imprisonment; stealing a silver bowl, valued at £4, the property of Frederick Ashley, on February 22, three months’ imprisonment; stealing a hat, valued at 10s, the property of some person or persons unknown, on February 26, seven days’ imprisonment; stealing a cigarette cabinet, valued at 255, the property of Leah Dyer, on February 23, fourteen days’ imprisonment; stealing a rug, valued at £l, the property of some person or persons unknown, on February 24, fourteen days’ imprisonment; stealing a bicycle, valued at £4, the property of George May, on February 26, three months’ imprisonment; stealing a rug and a brief bag, and contents, of a total value of £lO ss, the property of John Davis Marks, on February 26, six months’ imprisonment; stealing jewellery to the value of £ls 9s 6d, and 10s in money, the property of Gwen Merfield, on February 12, twelve months* imprisonment; and stealing beads and earrings to the value of £23 4s. the property of Allan Charles Robilliard, on February 12, twelve months’ imprisonment.

The sentences were made concurrent. Under Influence of Liquor. At the time of the arrest, accused w.as under the influence of liquor, said the Chief-Detective. Crawford had a long list of previous convictions. It appeared that he had been more or less intoxicated from the time of his release from gaol until his arrest. He had made a clean breast of everything when taxed with the offences, and confessed to many crimes which were not known of by the police. Crawford, he continued, had sold the stolen goods, and spent the money he received on drink. All the stolen goods had been recovered, save some to the value of £5 5s 6d. Accused: I would like you to give me hard labour, 3-our Worship. Probation doesn’t seem to do me any good. The Magistrate: I am willing to meet you as far as that is concerned. The Magistrate then passed sentence.