SERIES OF THEFTS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1926, Page 6

SERIES OF THEFTS

GOODS AND JEWELLERY TAKEN. L NA NNOUNOED VISITOR. Auckland, Nov. 22. William Thomas, aged 35, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court to three charges of stealing jewellery and goods of a total value of £6l 2s from three dwellings, and to breaking and entering another dwelling and stealing a purse, 5s in money, a gold sovereign ease, wristlet watch, and some coins, worth a total of £5. The proprietress of an apartment house in Alten Road stated that she heard a noise upstairs, and on going to the hall she was surprised to find a man, resembling accused, coming downstairs. When she asked him what he was doing on the premises he replied that he was looking for a “Mr. McPherson.” Detective Moon, who had interviewed Thomas, produced a statement which accused had signed. In this he said that he recently arrived in Auckland from England by the Hororata as assistant cook. When paid off in Auckland he received £5. Afterwards ho was employed as a canvasser. He had no fixed phuc of abode. He admitted going to four houses and stealing goods and jewellery, some of which he pawned with second-hand dealers. At the time of the thefts, he said, he was muddled with drink, and he did not know exactly what he stole. He had fallen through the ceiling in one house. Thomas was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on all four charges.