LAID BY THE HEELS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 527, 7 June 1909, Page 6

LAID BY THE HEELS.

(BT TmBQBAPH—rEESS ASSOCUHOK.)' '■ v :: • v ■'. Ohristchurch, June 5. At the-Magistrate's Court, to-day, a man named Leonard H., C. Barley, alias Percy Nat Kbg, pleaded guilty to stealing jewellery and other articles, valued at £21, the property of Mrs. Adam Cowan; also to the theft of £22 10s., belonging to Henry Hayward? . -.' . .. '. . .

Chief Detective Bishop stated that accused arrived in the Dominion from Eng-< land in January last, and while in Christchnrch, he became acquainted with Henry Hayward, of the Patho pictures, who recommended Mrs., Cowan to allow him to becomo a boarder at her boardinghouse. While, be was at the boardinghonse, various petty thefts ocenrred, followed by the theft of a largo sum belonging to Mr. Haywardi : Immediately afterwards, Mrs. Cowan discovered that a quantity of her jewellery had been stolen. . Accused, had complained bitterly to Mrs. Cowan after the police had searched him, and Mrs.. Cowan told him that, if he had nothing to' bo afraid of, ho had better stay_ and see the matter out. He Jeft Christchurch, however, that morning, for Little River, but_ subsequently returned to 'town, and,' knowing that the police were after him, wont to Governor's Bay. Coming back-to the city, he proceeded by slow train to Ashburton, and thence to InvercargiU, where he received a sentence of six months' imprisonment for theft from a hotel. In addition to tho two charges mentioned in the information, there was good evidenco to show that accused had been guilty of stealing money from various hotels in Christchurch. "Thoro is no doubt ho is one of tho worst hotel thievos ever in Christchurch," concluded tho Chief Detective.

The Magistrate imposed a sontenco of six months'. imprisonment on each charge, the terms to run concurrently, and to como into oporation at the end of the present sen. toned.