Church Intruder Appears in Court

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 701, 28 June 1929, Page 1

Church Intruder Appears in Court

THEFTS FROM HOUSE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Found hidden in St. Mary's Cathedral and bending over the collection box, Walter Hunter was charged at the Police Court yesterday with breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. He pleaded guilty on that and another charge of breaking and entering, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. rpHE second charge against Hunter, a Maori aged 32, was that he broke into the home of George Tanner, Wallace Street, Herne Bay, and stole £l3 and three tramway concession cards. How he discovered Hunter, whom he had previously seen in the church, was told by the caretaker. After accused’s earlier visit the collection box was found to have been opened. According to Tanner his home had been entered and his house ransacked. He found a door and a window open, both of which had been closed when witness left the house. Detective Hunt said that Hunter had made a full admission to him. Witness had found a screwdriver, which exactly corresponded to marks on a window-frame in the Wallace Street house, in the man’s possession. Thefts in city churches have lately been engaging the attention of the police. On Wednesday evening two men who had opened the safe in the vestry of St. Paul’s Church, Symonds Street, were surprised by the caretaker, who chased them through the church. They stole a few shillings. Some time also on Wednesday poor boxes were robbed in All Saints’ Church, Ponsonby Road. This church has suffered from time to time from the attention of thieves..