On This Day
On This Day, 1 October 1917
On 01, Oct 2017 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld
Birmingham Mail
Monday 1 October 1917
THEFTS FROM THE LIBRARY
BIRMINGHAM SPECIAL CONSTABLE SENT TO GAOL
William Henry Pickard (40), viewer and gauger, 13, Greenhill Road, Handsworth, a special constable attached to the “C” Division of the Birmingham Police, was before Birmingham Stipendiary (Lord Ilkeston), today, charged with stealing Debrett’s Peerage, a holiday guide, and three newspapers from the Handsworth Branch Free Library on Saturday night, and a Kelly’s Directory of Lincolnshire, from the Birmingham Central Library the previous night.
About 8.30 on Saturday night Detective Daniel, who was watching at the Handsworth branch of the library, saw accused go to the reference shelf and take out Debrett’s Peerage and put it under his coat. Asked how he accounted for having the book in his possession, he replied “I do not know what made me do it. I am fond of books and I have been overworked. I hope you will be as lenient as you can with me as I am a special constable.” On searching him the officer found three newspapers in his possession. He subsequently searched accused’s house and found a holiday guide, taken from the branch library and the directory taken from the central library.
In reply to Mr. J. Hall-Wright, who appeared for the accused, Detective Daniel said he believed prisoner besides working hard all day, had been on duty two nights a week.
Mr. Walter Powell, the chief librarian, said a number of books had been taken from the central library which had not been recovered.
Mr. Hall-Wright said defendant left home shortly after seven o’clock in the morning and did not return in the evening till 9 o’clock, and latterly he had been on duty as a special constable two nights weekly. He had been called upon to do four nights, and this had somewhat affected his mind.
The Stipendiary said prisoner had evidently been making a practice of this sort of thing. Instead of stealing the property of the public he should have protected it. It was a serious offence, and he would have to go to gaol for twenty-one days.
