THE MEANEST OF ACTIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 180, 9 November 1910, Page 7

THE MEANEST OF ACTIONS

THREE MONTHS' "HARD." "In the whole course of my experience," stated a member of the police force to a representative of the Newt, yesterday, "I have known no more despicable theft than this." The facts of the case, as disclosed -to Mr. Fitzherbert, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday morning, certainly put in the shade such mean offences as stealing from a blind man or purloining the schoolboy's lunch. Walter James Ross, a -strapping young man. about twenty-two years o\ age, took advantage of a poor weakminded girl to obtain a sovereign with which to indulge in a glorious spree. Tlie money was the girl's hard-earned wages for a month, and Ross -saw her employer give the money on their arrival on that day at one of the livery stables in tow-'?. The girl was in charge of a little child, and Ross said to her: "That little child looks verv hungry; v.liy don't you get it some biscuits; give me the money, and I will get them." Innocent-like and unsuspecting, she foolishly handed over the sovereign which, only a few minutes previously, she had received. But after waiting

iiliout fhe stables for hours, the biscuits failed to materialise, and the sovereign remained a minus quantity. The police were put into possession of the facts, and Detective Boddam apprehended Ross, who pleaded guilty and received the maximum penalty, .viz., three months' imprisonment wit 1 : hard labor in New Plymouth prison. The prisoner is not unknown to the police, having been before the authorities at Napier, charged with the theft of a horse, sad.lle and bridle, for which he was let off on probation for twelve months.