RINGING THE CHANGES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 285, 28 August 1919, Page 7

RINGING THE CHANGES

CULPRITS BEFORE THE COURT X

TO GAOL FOR SIX MONTHS

The exploits of William John Watle and Eilward Kolly, who suceccded in (lulling several shopkeepers by the trick known as ringing the change, were described in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Miy E. Page, S.M. At tho conclusion of the evidence on the various charges the Magistrate sentenced tho men to cumulative terms of imprisonment amounting to six months in cach case. Tho charges were: (1) That on August 18, Ivelly and Wade by a trick of fraudulent expedient known as ringing ~ the change, .did steal 0110 10s. note, tfio property of Raleigh Ginsberg; (!!) that on August 18, Kelly and Wado did attempt to' steal a 10s. note, the property of Sing On Tie; (3) tlmt on August 18 Kelly diu steal the sum of 9s.' Gd., tho property of Alinio Oorin; (1) tlmt Kelly and /-Wado did resist Sergeant Lopdell whilst lin tho execution of his duty; (a) that ; Kelly cim'ied a rovolver contrary to tho War Regulations; (6) that Kelly stole tho revolver, valued at 10s., • the property of Thomas Malcolm M'Carthy.' Sub-Inspector Emerson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. H. ]?. O'Leary appeared for tho defendants. Raleigh Ginsberg, manager of tho Bluo Bird confectionery shop, said that on August 18, the accused entered the shop and Kelly tendered a 10s. note with a request for sixpence worth of sweets. Witness gavo Kelly tho sweets and put the 9s. Gd. change 'on the counter. Both men were talking hard at the time, and when the change was handed over Wade remarked that it was silly of Kelly to have changed tho note as he already had a sixpeuoo with which to pay for the sweets. "Kelly thereupon asked for the note back again and ho would give witness sixpence. AVitness thought everything was all right and put the' noto on the counter alongside the, 9s. Gd. change. Kelly then said, "Take it up and give me a pound noto." Witness complied with tho request, and the twp accused left tho shop. Immediately after witness realised that ho had Ijeen defrauded, and followed the pair along Manners Street and saw them enter the shop of Sing On Tie. He accused Kelly of tho fraud and Kelly thereupon handed him. a Ms. note and asked linn if lis wore satisfied.Witness warned tho Chinaman and then went in search of a policeman. He met Sergeant Lopdell and together they re. turned to the shop an<|> found both accused and the Chinaman engaged in an argument. ■ .. - 1 . •In answer to Mr. O'Leary witness said that Wade did noj; handle any money. 1 Mr. O'Leary: Do you think that there Was a possibility of mistake or was it in your opinion- a deliberate attempt at . fraud?' Witness: I tliink it was fraud pure and simple.Young.Tie, manager for Sing. On Tie, Baid that, as a result of the warning lie received, from Ginsberg hewwats t on his . guard. Kelly asked for Gd. worth of ' fruit anrl tendered a 103. note. BnMi 'accused then endeavoured to "ring the change," but without success. Sergeant Lopdell' said that he arrested both men, and on the way to tlio Taranaki Street Polico ■ Station . both pulled. back > suddenly and witness was unable to retain liis hold on Wade, who ran'away.' Constable Erost arirved ( on the scene' und after a chase apprehended Wade. Kelly i struggled very Violently, and witness was - compelled to apply tho strangle hold 1111til assistance arrived. Kelly attempted to get his hand inside his coat, but witness ■ prevented him, and on being searched at. ' the Police Station an automatic pistol ivaa found in Kelly's- possession. The pistol was unloaded, but an extra chamber was full of cartridges. He nlso had six piickiijje} of fruit and sheets in hipossession, and Wade had five small packets of sweots in his pocket. The charge of theft of: the revolver was rriext ' taken, and Sub-Inspector 'Emerson said' that the owner of tlio weapon had missed s it'from his room at the Carlton Hotel, on August 18. The complainant reported .the loss to the police, and the weapon found on Kelly was claimed by M'Carthy as his. The evidenco of M'Carthy, resulted the oharje of theft being dismissed. Ho said that Kelly was ; a friend of Ji it. and . they used to live together at the Carlton Hotel.. They had discussed; wfi>' souvenirs, and he told Kelly that if ho wished. to show the revolver I" any of his friends he could call in and get it. Tho revolver was a German one obtained at the front. • Sub-Inspector Emerson: Did you not tell tho police that no ono had a right to the .revolver? Witness: Yes. i , Tiie Sub-Inspector then suggested that it was useless going on with the charge. To -Mr. O'Leary: Witness . forgot tho authority lie had given' Kelly to take ' the revolver. His statement was not a ruse to got Kelly-off. Sergeant Lopdell said that when he found the revolver on Kelly he asked him if, ho wished to mako any statement, and Kelly replied that lie had an ■ explanation to offer but nothing else. His Worship said that ho could not enter a conviction on the clia-rge of theft, and the information would therefore be dismissed. . The charge of being unlawfully m possession. of firearms under the .-War Regulations was also dismissed, as the evidence«called showed fchatthe revolver was a souvenir and was simply bains carried away to show to friends ot Kelly's. ■».•/!■ The episode in the shop of Annie Conn was next ventilated. Evidence of com- , plainttnt showed that taotics similar to those explained by the first witness were adopted. . . His Worship in sentencing the -accused, both of whom had been previously before the Court, said that they had start e<l oiit on a career of deliberate theft by ,trickery. They had 1 visited a number oi shops und. had tuicoaetled in duping the shopkeepers. Although Kelly actually handled tho money Wado was equally guilty, as tliey had schemed together to work tho fraud. In the Ginsberg case each was sentenced to three months imprisonment, with hard labour, and for resisting tho police they would bo sen- ; touced t6 seven days' imprisonment Each was sentenced to three months imprisonment in the Sing On Tie case, j and a similar term was imposed on Kelly ; for his fraud in tlio Conn case. Hie j , sentences wero mado cumulative. |