MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 34, 9 February 1905, Page 5

MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB.

(Continued from page 3.) THE PRISONERS' VERSION. The case for the defence was opened this morning. Edward Barrett, one of the accused, said he had been a wharf labourer at Auckland for the last ten years, and was also occasionally employed by the Auckland Harbour Board, the Ursion Company, and the Sugar Company. He had known Yickery for several years. Witness described the proceedings of the clay, the drinkings at hotels, the gifts of money by Vickery, and the cab drive, and stated that -when the policeman appeared Viekery asked, '"Who's that?"' Witness replied: "He's a mounted trooper." Vickery said: "Never mind himj Pll shoot him." The constable asked Viekery "What was the matter with him , ?" Viekery said, '"I've lost my money—fully £28."" The constable asked who was the man who ran away, and they all declared that they did not know. The constable told them to drive on to the Junction Hotel while he tried to get the other man. At the police station Vickery observed that he thought it was himself that the constable was going to "pinch , " (or lock up). Witness said: "Why did you tell him you had been robbed?" Vickery replied: "Oh. I wanted to have a bit of fun with the policeman." The constable had not searched Viekery's coat pockets either on the road or in the hotel, but only tapped them. On the way to the station Vickery several times wanted to £w break away," but witness restrained him, saying, "You started it, and you had better finish it." At the police station Vickery asked witness what he (witness) was in for. Witness said. "You know very well. It's for assault and robbery.' , Vickery replied that he did not believe it. To Mr Tole witness admitted that he had not been in constant work for the last three or four years, but had been frequently in prison for assaults and other crimes. It was true that on the day in question he visited something like eight hotels, drinking with the unfortunate man Vickery, and accepted a gift of 4/u from him. Vickery told him that he had £70 when he "arrived at Onehunga, having slipped up all the stores at Palmerston, but this was not the reason why he stuck to Vickery. Mr Tole: It was a good thin?" that Constable Ramsay came along. (Proceeding.)