STOLEN NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 34, 9 February 1905, Page 3

STOLEN NOTES.

TTTT? THIEF'S Tre\fAT?K;ATrLT; EXPLANATION. ''"I sared them for my wife's false teeth but she is dead, and I am going to erect a tombstone,' , was the curious explanation of Arthur William Thornton when be was found in the possession, of three £ 1 notes which he was suspected to have stolen. He was charged in the Police Court yesterday afternoon jbefre Mr Wardell, S.M., with stealing six £ 1 notes, the property of Henry James Ford. The prosecutor's evidence was that he came from the -South in the steamer Rarawa last Thursday, and met the accused, who was a stranger to him. Witness and Thornton had some drink together, and he went to Thorntoirs house for a sleep. While he was lying on a bed the accused woke him up three times to aak for money. Witness gave him 3/ and 2/. When he woke up the third time he took off his coat, and at the accused's suggestion he went into another room for a wash. When he returned he missed six •£ 1 notes, and accused Thornton of stealing them. This was denied by the accused, and they went together to the Eden. Terrace Police Station. Constable Hodgson described what took place there, stating that Constable Anderson asked Thornton what he had in his troueer pocket- "Nothing, nothing," replied the accxrsed, and the officer, searching the pocket, found in it three £"1 notes. Thornton then stated tha-t he had heen sa.ving them to pay for his wife's false teeth, but she died, and he intended erecting a tombstone with the money. Ford told the magistrate that he blamed himself somewhat for "taking up" with a perfect stranger, and he would like to see the accused dealt with leniently. Thornton denied having taken the notes, and repeated his explanation that they were intended to pay for his wife's tornjbstone. The magistrate, however, found him guilty, sentencing him to a month's hard labour. He ordered the notes to he returned to the prosecutor.