CRIME AND CRIMINALS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9016, 30 December 1907, Page 3

CRIME AND CRIMINALS.

WELLINGTON'S RECORD.

During the year the crimes committed and punished in the Wellington police district have not been of a very serious character, according to Inspector Ellison. One case of murder did occur eariy in the year, but thb other offences were rather less in the aggregate than formerly. On Christmas Eve, Inspector Ellison stated, the conduct uf the crowd which thronged the streets was very orderly. A good many people were out for the customary jollification, but they did not trespass beyond the limits permitted by the law. Rowdyism was noticeably ab ent, on the whole; and one thing which particularly impressed him was the care and judgment exercised by the tramway, motormen in driving their cars through the crowded thoroughfares. About the average number of burglaries were committed during the year as far as the inspector's memory served him, but most of them had been cleared up, and the imposition of severe sentences in two or three cases had a very beneficial effect. The working of the Habitual Criminals' Act. had also operated as a striking check, on the conduct of persons who chose Crime as a means of livelihood. "Some people,"remarked the inspector, "are driven h> crime through bad luck, but most of them throueh sheer Tliere is no doubt the Act is having a very good effect." Asked whe'her there had been any appreciable influx of known criminals from outside places, Inspector Ellison stated that a few "birds of passage" had paid flying visits to the city just as certain "wasters" had flitted from Wellington to other parts; but they were under constant watch by the authorities. ■ ;■ ■ The inspector once again urged that people should be careful of their belongings at holiday time. Too many people, particularly ladies, were in the habit of carrying their purses in a slovenly fashion in crowds, and not enough care was exercised in seeing that houses were properly secured before the occupants went out.