ALLEGED PICKPOCKETS TO BE TRIED

Chronicle (Levin), 2 May 1947, Page 7

ALLEGED PICKPOCKETS TO BE TRIED

— Press Association

Bv Telenr~vh-

• KELSON, May 1. James Wilson and Patrick John Mee, who stated they had coine from Australia, were committed to the Supreme Court at Nelson for trial on charges that on April 19 they stole £80 from the person of Charles James Ruft'ell at Richmond Parlc raeecourse. Deteetive-Sergeaut J. J. Murray, in ^evidence, said he saw the two accused on the eourse. After their arrest Wilson had said he had never seea Mee before and that the iirst time he had seen hiin was wheu; they were arrested. Mee had a'greed with Wilson 's statement. Witness said he searched Wilson at the Nelson police station. He had £83 13s 6d made up of seven £10 notes. one £5, eight £1, aird one 10s. Wilson had in liis possession the return portion of a steamer ticket'from Nelson to Wellington for April 19 in the name of Mr. Adams. Also in Wilson ;s possession was a bank deposit slip for £300 dated April 9, 19l7j on the Auckland braneli of the Bank of New Zealand, in the name of Thonias Lee. He had an other deposit slip dated April 14, 1947, Auckland branch of the bank, for £00 in the name of T. Lee. Wilson had told witness that he arrived in New Zealand from Australia about a montli previously and that his address was the Hotel Auckland, Auckland. He denied that he was concerned vyith any pocket pick ing oft'enees on the raeecourse. Mee had £199 Os 7d in.pis possession made up of 'seventeen £10 notes, four £5, six £1 and tliree 10s. He gave his address as People 's Palace,. Auckland, and said he had come froni Australia Jo New Zealand about 12 nvpnths ago. Witness said he had examined the £10 notes held by the, teller at the Nelson Bank on April 29. Seven of the £10 notes in Mee 's .possession and several in Wilson 's possession were of the same serial number as those held by the bank and which are in'&rculation in Nelson. Neither accused liad any totalisator tickets in his possession when arrestedBoth accused pl^acled hot guilty. Counsel for accpsqd, Mr. M. C. H. Cheek, applied ior * bail which was opposed by tlie police. The Magistratc refused to grant b^iil in the case of Wilson. In respec't . of Mee he *ud if there was deiinite sevidenee tiia tion would be iniurious to' L.. h. he would give tho matter fu/i.. . nsideration. Mr. Cheek also thised the questroii of the £240 produce'dLrs the exhibit of £10 notes in the Court, elai'ming that the charges related to only £80. The whole amount should not be impounded. The Magistrate.agr.eed that only £80 should be impounded as an exhibit.