A SNATCH-THIEF.

NZ Truth, Issue 136, 25 January 1908, Page 6

A SNATCH-THIEF.

Who and What is He? As m other centres of the ■ Dominion, the clerks employed m tlie vast majority of the Christohurch offices are extremely badly paid, and how the devil those of them who haven't got homes get along is a matter for conjecture— but not very wild conjecture. They just drag along somehow or other with the assistance (very often) of the boss's till, or the generous assistance of the jew and gentile money-lending shark. Wiheh a young chap is m want of monej'— fiadly m want of it— he is apt to do some dangerous things ; he adopts expedients that may land him m chokey m less • than no'time. One well-dressed bloko -committed a bold action m Manches-ter-street, Christchurch, the other evening. ..j. A young lady had come m from 'Papanui to buy a dress;- or have one miad'e, which is the same thing, and she had three quid m her purse, one of those fakements that -hang from the waist. The low thief made off with it, ' but tlie lady ' RECOGNISED HIS FACE as he turned to grab the oof. Sihe had seen it often m town, and later on found oulrhis name. She has been urged to give the matter into the hands of the police, but like many another person m the community she detests giving evidence m the Police Court. Perhaps due restitution has I been made by the damned skunk, but J that, doesn't alter the seriousness of j the offence. No doubt women - offer a , great deal of temiptation to highway robbers of this- unutterable description by carrying their purses m sucn an open "fashion. But still that is no reason why a well-dressed man, said to be m one of those semi-medium positions that obtain,'' should commit suoh an audacious act. The coot must have been very short of cash or his employer's till was short, or he probably wouldn't have attempted to boldly rob a woman m a public thoroughfare. More will probably, be heard of the matter now.