From: The Herald, Melbourne, Vic (1861-1954) Friday 23 Mary, 1873, page 3

Ingratitude
How an Itinerant and Destitute Shoemaker was beneficed and how he showed himself an Ingrate

A strange case was brought before the City Police Court yesterday morning. A respectable resident of Axedale, Mr.Kelly the proprietor of the Raglan Hotel,was charged by a person named M’Namara with stealing some leather from him; but, from the evidence given by the prosecutor himself, it appeared that there was not the slightest foundation for the charge.

‘M’Namara came to Mr. Kelly’s hotel a week ago, and between them it was arranged that M’Namara should occupy an empty house which adjoined Mr.Kelly’s house, he being a shoemaker. M’Namara was in need of the necessary ready cash to lay in a stock of leather to to work on; and Mr. Kelly with great kindness, undertook to obtain a supply for him, but with the condition that he should keep the leather in his possession, and that M’Namara should ask him for it as he wanted it.

This was more than a prudent step on Mr. Kelly’s part, as M’Namara was a perfect stranger to him. Mr. Kelly went into Sandhurst during the early part of this week, and while away from home McNamara obtained the leather from Mrs. Kelly, and took it to his shop, and upon going to bed placed it under his head. When Mr. Kelly came home he was told that M’Namara had received all the leather and taken it away with him, upon which Mr. Kelly proceeded to M’Namara’s room, and took it back again, not caring to trust him too much.

Upon this, Mr. M’Namara, with great coolness, laid information against Mr. Kelly for stealing the leather. Of course, when the case came before Mr. Cogdon, he dismissed it, and commented strongly upon M’Namara’s ingratitude.

It is strange than a magistrate oould be found to issue a warrant against a respectable and well known person,.at the request of a total stranger, whose appearance was certainly not much in favor of his respectability.
– Bendigo Independant

**Please note: Punctuation and paragraphs have been added to the above transcription for ease and speed of reading.

INGRATITUDE. (1873, May 23). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954), p. 3. Retrieved July 10, 2021, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245366443

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