Emotional Thief Swayed By Music

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 9

Emotional Thief Swayed By Music

ABANDONS VALUABLES OTAHUHU BURGLARIES /“\N arrest accused stated that when he was in Mr. Arkinstall’s house examining some rings the owner commenced singing “The Prisoner’s Song,” and he was so affected that he could not take the goods, which were valued at £9O, This was the substance of a statement made by Constable Nield, in the Otahuhu Court this morning, when a man named Frederick Dixon, aged 42 years, pLeaded guilty before Messrs, J. Atkinson and L. J. Sigley, J.P.’s, uo a series of burglary charges. The Courthouse was decked with a display of articles recovered from accused. Sergejunt Parsons stated that after arrest accused made a statement in which he admitted entering without lawful excuse many homes in the district. and declared that drink was his trouble. He had a banking account, and promised to mako payment for everything stolen. The charges to which Dixon pleaded guilty were as follow: Breaking and entering the reside ices of Miss M. Cameron, stealing a fountain pen and 26s cash; Matthew Kirkland’s, stealing £2; Gus Arkinstall’s, handbag and £6 12s; Peter Turnbull’s, £lO 10s; F. Bradley’s, purse and 10s; Mrs. M. £lO 19s; Chas. Everitt’s, purse containing 3s 7d; Robert Todd’s, 11s 9d; Walter West’s photos valued at 10s. At the homes of Alfred McDonald and Mrs. E. Nicholls accused was disturbed before he took anything. Dixon was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on October 25. On the charge of being found without lawful excuse in the garden of Mary Drake, Dixon was sentenced to 24 hours’ imprisonment. This clears up the mystery of the thefts; which have caused anxiety to Otahuhu residents for some months past.