"LIVING ON HIS WITS"

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 39, 15 February 1930, Page 10

"LIVING ON HIS WITS"

MAN'S ATTEMPT TO GET MONEY

A suggestion that the accused had been living on his wits during the past fortnight or three weeks was made by Chief-Detective Lopdell in the Magistrate's Court this morning. After having related the facts in support of two charges against Thomas Joseph Arthur Crawford, aged 36. Crawford pleaded guilty to being idle and disorderly, and to a chargo of being a roguo and a vagabond, in that ho had endeavoured to impose on Mrs. Rai O'Reilly by a false representation with intent to obtain money.

Mr. Lopdell said, that Crawford interviewed Mrs. O'Eeilly yesterday and wanted to collect at least £5 in connection with betting transactions he alleged Mr. O'Reilly was interested in. Mr. O'Reilly .was in hospital, and Mrs. O'Reilly questioned the accused. She was satisfied from his answers, and. the fact that her husband was ill, that Mr. O'Reilly had not been dealing with Crawford. "He has a list of previous convictions," added the chiefdetective, "and he has been known to the local detectives for the past fortnight or three iveeks. He has not been working—evidently living on his wits."

Crawford, from the dock, said he was working until three weeks ago, but he had been unable to get work since.

I Remarking that the accused had a long list of' offences, some serious in their nature, the Magistrate (Mr. E. Page) sentenced Crawford- to twelve months' imprisonment on tho second jeharge. At tho suggestion of the Magistrate, the first charge was withdrawn.