William Clarkson, 26, a tinker, was indicted for stealing 20lbs. of copper wire of the value 14s., the property of the National Telephone Company, at East Barnet, on September 6th, 1907.
Prisoner pleaded guilty and admitted a previous conviction at the Central Criminal Court.
Mr F. Phillips prosecuted, and said the prisoner went about with a pair of pliers cutting and stealing the wires of the Company, and thereby cutting off the connection between the Exchange and their customers, and throwing the whole communication out of gear.
The Right Hon T. F. Halsey said it was a most serious offence, and very dangerous to the public. Instead of having 18 telephone wires in working order the Telephone Company had only one, thanks to the mischief the prisoner did.
This was a thing that must be stopped, and he sentenced the prisoner to eighteen months’ hard labour.
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