STARVING MAN'S THEFT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19827, 29 April 1927, Page 3

STARVING MAN'S THEFT

VICTIM OF STRIKE A PITIFUL SYDNEY CASE. SYDNEY, April 27. Sydney Williams, a seaman, 26 years of age, told a story in the Sydney Police Court to-day of having stolen because he was starving. He received a sentence of 12 months’ imprisonment for stealing in a dwelling. A juror in waiting in the Court, who had heard the prisoner’s story, said he would give him employment. The judge said that if the juryman wrote to the department promising to give work as stated, he would recommend that the man be liberated on licence. The .case was a pitiful one. Prisoner had walked into the Manly Police Station and asked to be locked up because he was starving. Later he confessed that he had robbed a flat at Manly. In Court he said that for a long time he had been unable to secure work because of the seamen’s strike. He was starving when he committed the offence, but would try to leave the country if he were given a chance. I ‘l feel,” said the Judge, ‘Hike giving this man every assistance possible. Undoubtedly he was starving at tho time.” It was at this stage that the juryman in waiting made the offer already motioned, and the Judge said ho would recommend prisoner’s release on licence.