ALLEGED THEFT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 27, 26 October 1918, Page 10

ALLEGED THEFT

A PECULIAR CASE. In tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. V. Fra/.er, S.M., Reynold John Adolph was charged with stealing a gold ring valued at £2 10s. from John Burke. This was a peculiar case in several respects. The facts were that Burke met the accused and another man in a pub 10 lavatory in Lambton Quay, and as he gave indications of being ill tho accused invited him to tho Empire Hotel to got a "pick-me-up," which Burke siiid turned out to be a "take-nie-down. 'While the men were at. the bar a third man came in, whom the accused said was his friend and a few minutes later Burke discovered that his ring had by son* means passed from his finger to that of Adolph. Burke pointed this out to Adolph, who immediately returned tho ring. Burke then discovered that his watch and chain had disappeared, and also Hint two pound notes in his lup pocket had been abstracted. He called for someone' to fetch tho police, at tho same time holding the men. Adolph remained until a constable arrived, but the other man got away, and could not be traced by the police. By some mysterious means the watch and chain were returned to the police. , The Magistrate said that the accuseds story that the ling had been temporari y lent to him at his request was probab y correct. It was clear that the ring could not have been taken from Burko's finger without his knowing of it. There was nothing to connect the accused directly with tho disappearance of the watch and chain, but his general conduct, and particularly tho fact that ho gave Burke, who was intoxicated, a false name was not satisfactory. However, there was in respect to the ring some doubt, and the accused was given the benefit of that, nud the clmrgo against him was dismissed.