THEFT AFTER THEFT

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 13682, 16 May 1912, Page 4

THEFT AFTER THEFT

AN AMAZING CAREER. A HCKLANI), May If. Keith Bussell Jones, a well-dressed young fellow of HI, who had come only recently from Sydney, admitted to Mr Ciitten, S.M., at tho Police Court th ; ~ morning that he had stolen £7 10s front a room in one hotel and a rheqne-book and purse containing ill from bedrooms in another hotel. The history given of tho man by Chief Detective Marsaek was unusual. He bail arrived in Auckland about three months ago, and had been for a time employed canvassing for a photographer, and later as a steward on a small coastal boat. He had arranged to lie married to a young lady on the Ist of Mav, but the bride waited for him at, tho church and he failed to turn up. Ho stayed at the hotel for a. time, and while there (also on the fateful May Day when due to be otherwise engaged) he entered another hoarder's room and stole £7 10s. Ho moved to an hotel in Newmarket, and while there took a room mate's chequebook, amf also stole from a servant girl’s room a. imr.se containing £\- At one period of his gay Auckland experience he took a fancy for motoring, and in this joyful occupation ran up a hill of £o 10s with a taxi owner. He paid the hill with William Woodcml's money captured at tho ’Waverlov Hotel. Accused, who appeared to have little sense of responsibility, explained that he committed the thefts because ho was stranded and the taxi man was pressing in hi.s demand. He added incidentally that he had private reasons for not meeting his expected bride at tho church, and said he had given her notice in time to have prevented her going there. He said he was a tiayeller, but had been studying 'accountancy, and he had been drawn to New Zealand by a desire to see a young lady in the South Island. His Worship said he could not help a vonng man who committed theft after theft in the way accused had done. Ho would be sentenced to three months’ hard labour.