A DESPICABLE OFFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 33, 8 February 1905, Page 2

A DESPICABLE OFFENCE.

ATTEMPT TO ROB A POOR-BOX. Frank Hurley McGrath, a young man, was charged before Mr. H. S. Wardell, S.M., this afternoon in the Police Court with the rare offence of attempting to break open the lock of a poor-box at St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday. Upon the request of the poKee the charge was altered to one of attempting to steal from the poor-box. Matthew Martin, a carpenter, stated that he was employed yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and saw the accused sitting close to the box about 10 o'clock. He went out. and witness having occasion to leave the church, saw McGrath looking through a heap of scrap iron at a foundry. This seemed suspicious, and when witness saw him with his hand on the lock of the poor-box, watching two other workmen at the end of the church, he came down off a ladder and told him to leave the church. McGrath did not reply, but put something into his pocket and went outside, Mr. Thomas Hussey came in later, and was told of the incident. He asked if the man could be identified, and witness replying in the affirmative, he went out with Mr. Hussey. They then saw McGrath standing outside the fence. He was sober, but there were indications that he had been drinking. Thomas Hussey. a vtsitor to Auckland, staying at the Catholic Presbytery, stated that McGrath had been suspected of rifling poor boxes, and when he was pointed out by Mr Martin witness said, "It is you, McGrath, after all." The poor-box at St. Patrick's had been broken open and rifled three times within the Vast six weeks, while that of St. Benedict's had been broken open twice, and tbe Sacred Heart poor-box once. McGrath's reply to this evidence was that he had been drinking a good deal and could recollect absolutely nothing about the affair. His Worship: "I take that as a very poor excuse." He added that people often tried to blame drink when it "was really an evil mind. It was a terrible thing to commit an offence of that character, and although McGrath was a first offender he would be sentenced to 21 days' hard labour. ——^_>