SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10616, 15 June 1920, Page 4

SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT

OFFENDER BEFORE COURT. ' REFORMATIVE TREATMENT ORDERED. . May 29th was an unlucky day for one young, man, George Ryan, alias Alfred Smith, because on that dats Lome Jamas Lipsett accused Kim of wearing his overcoat, which had been stolen about three months previously. The latter called a constable, to whom Ryan alleged that he had got the garment "off the rack." This did not satisfy either the owner of the coat, or the minion of the law, so Ryan was token to the police station, "where, upon being*searched, he was found to be in possession of a silver bracelet, gold pendant, gold watchchain, gold locket, war medal, military discharge, and a bar of war service ribbons. The war medal bore the inscription "13/2293 Trooper P. Anderson," and the discharge tho name of George Harold Moukley. Ryan then said that he had bought the coat from a man 'whom he could identify, but whose name he did jnot know, for the sum of £l. That -was. at the Pier Hotel. The<>ther articles belonged to a friend. On Friday last he wan again questioned about the matter, whereupon he said, that ho had paid the man at the Pier Hotel los for the coat, and that he subsequently found the other articles in one of the pockets. A sequel took place at the Police Court yesterday, when he was charged, before Mr E. Pago, S.M., with the theft of the articles. Lorno James Lipsett, a clerk, deposed that the coat was taken from tho Albemarle Private Hot-el on l<eb-i-uary 27th last. He valued it at £4. The accused, on oath, affirmed that his last statement was true. He denied that he had ever been in Moulder's house at Alfredton. near Eketa r hu'na, but admitted that his real name was Smythe. and that he had been in similar t-«'- K, e on a*out fourteen pre-

•■'.{■■ ■ ; • :-'.JIIB. The nv.isrfitratc intimated that on tho evidence he must enter n conviction, and this Thought from ChiefDotectivo A. Ward the information that the -accused had a "shocking list for a- young man Ho suggested that Rvan should ho handed over to the Prisons Board to sec what it could V'tota ordered that the accused be detained for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding two years on each charge, the terms to run concurrently.