"HONOR AMONG THIEVES."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8026, 12 January 1906, Page 2

"HONOR AMONG THIEVES."

AN UNUSUAL CASE. A SELF-ACCUSED KOBIiER. POLICE DU-CIiEDIT HIS STdliY: I'liß I'RIISS ASSOCIATION, Ai'cki.vxh, Jjimisiry 11. Ail unusual case was heard lit (lie Police Court to-day. Two men, Thomas Finnegim mvd Patrick Murphy, were charged with stealing from the person of Charles Spinley property valued at £;! 17s. Witnesses for the proseeution were positive in their statements. For the defence William Thompson, at present 1111 inmate of Mt. Eden gaol, on remand for participation in the Vic-toria-street robbery, stated that Spinley was under the influence of liquor when the robbery took place. When Spinley rushed out of the hotel witness saw his watch and chain hanging, and " I said to myself I might as well have tlmt as j anyone else." I therefore grabbed at the chain and watch, and took about I fifteen shillings in silver from Spinley's pocket. Sub-Inspector Black : Will you say that you have not arranged with the other two men to take this charge upon yourself to allow them to got free ? Witness: No. Nothing of the kind. I would not- allow any man to be done a wrong by, when I have committed a crime. Sub-Inspector Black said it was possible that Thompson received the watch and chain from accused to sell for thorn. It was a most unusual thing for a man to accuse himself like that, and he did not think that Thompson would have done so only he was on a fair way to receiving a good sentence. It was surprising the amount of in. formation that entered the gaol. The prisoners mixed together and may have elaborated this act of self-accusa-tion of Thompson's. Murphy denied the robbery. He denied telling Thompson the facts of the robbery. He had only recently served six months for theft from a dwelling. Both accused wore committed for trial. Ftnnegan was also remanded for a week on another charge of theft.