The Recent Thefts.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 24 September 1913, Page 2

The Recent Thefts.

There was an abundance of oomedj as well as a serious criminal side in connection with the recent thefts from the Helensville South railway station. Quite a number of people appear to have experienced no small inconvenience l as the outcome, ail of which was due to the peculiar con^ ficatory notions possessed by one Alexander Mclntosh, a stranger to the town. No fewer than eleven criminal charges accumulated against him d.iriDg bis week's sojourn in Helensville, and judging by the collection of articles he had accumulated zn that time his enterprises were of no mean order. Parcels and cases were of great interest to Alexander and whatever lih came across of that description he assumed ownership. It appears that when Mclntosh passed through Ohirangi on his way Noith he to«k with him a number of steel wedges from the railway station, which he brought with him to Helensville, Finding a house unoccupied on the Parkhurst road (the tenant and family being a»vay at Batley) ho took possession, making his entrance through the window. The nocturnal habits of the man evidently caused him to sieep during the day, for the only time he was seen about was when he did a bit of digging in the garden.

Alexander's operations commenced after tlie arrival of the evening train at the South station, where he strolled along- to pick up a few parcels. He also got ia tlie trucks and opened up cases, carrying away the contents and then the cases. In this way he had collected a cart load of various kinds of goods among which werw biscuits, chocolates, beer, laundry, hardware, etc. \u his swag were several fowls and a turkey ready dressed, presumably in readiness for his departure. Mclntobh vras rather fond of choco~ lates, on which he had lived for nearly a week.

The. excuse tendered to Constable Drisooll by Alexander when he was caught in the act of annexing a. case of beer at midnight, was that lie was getting in lus winter stores and that tho goods* were his own. The Conslable however, was not; so readily oouvincod anl accompanied tna man to a house near tbo JDairy Factory where ho found such overwhelming evidence of thefts that Alexander was transferred to the police-cells. At the Courthouse on Monday before Messrs J. A Wilson and I. McLeod a plea of guilty on all charges was entered by Melntosh, who was committed for trial to the Supreme Court.

Among the stolen articles was Mr Tucker's laundry basket from. Auckland, which contained a "lot of wearing apparel for different people, who iv uiftny instances wore much put ou over their missing goods.

The poll on proposed loan of £3,000 for _ completion of the Wafer and Drainage works takes place o a Thursday, October 2nd.