THEFT OF AN OVERCOAT

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 36, 6 November 1920, Page 9

THEFT OF AN OVERCOAT

• 4 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A "WATERSIDER. In the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., a coloured maji named James Holder, a watersido worker, for whom Sir. H. F. O'Leary appeared, was charged with tho theft of an overcoat, valued at XB, the property of some pel-son unknown. Chief-Detective "Ward said that a detective in tho course of his duties found a new overcoat pledged witJi a pawnbroker for by "James Holder, 'l'aranaki Street." The accused was interviewed .by the detective, and stated that the coat was sent out,to him from Loiidbu l>y his wife, and' was brought out by Frank Ivelly, a steward on the Pakelia. A number of letters from defendant's wife wore handed to the detective, but they contained no reference to, the coat. Inquiries mado failed to locate Frank Kelly, for there was no record of such a man having been a member of the crew of the I'akeha, nor did any person of that name desert from the vessel. Chief-Detective Ward further stated that the s.s. Remuern brought out a case of coats similar to tho one found: in the possession of the accused. The case was consigned to Kirkcaldie and 'Stains, Ltd.. and Hie contents had been stolen, l'he accused was engaged in working cargo on the Remuera when the overcoats disappeared. FA'idence in support of the chief-de-tective's statement was given, For the defcnce, .Mr. O'Leary pointed out that Holder pawned the coat under his own name a.nd correct address, but because ho had been previously charged with receiving stolen goods no "doubt Ilia detective thought if necessary lo arrest tho man. "Holder's slorv to t » jlotm..

; lao mail. jioiuers story to the d-ctce- • h™ WIS nuile correct/' stated Mr. » "?or here is a.letter from hia t wife in which she slates she was seuding , out a cont by Frank IO?lly, who was sailing on the i'akchiij ami there wa* - a rinl)SK|uent loiter from her asking Holder !o lei her know if lie had reeeiv- - (Ml the coat." , fn answer to Chief-Detective Ward, the : accused said that he had known Frank I Kelly for some time, having been n k shipmate' of his for seven years. The Magistrate said he would have lo believe one story or tlu» other, and he "was going to convict the' accused. A' case of ovorcoals was shipped by the Jtemuora. and the garments disappeared. The accused was working on that vessel, , and hs was probably concerned in the theft, and a fo*v weeks after the vessel IMb he pawned a new overcoat. Had . the man really wanted an overcoat he ■ could get ono locally for probably much less than what "was allied to have been paid for the coai that his wife was supposed to have sejit out to him. Holder was sentenced to four months' imprisonment. Mr. O'Learv immediately gave notice of appeal, and stated that he would ask for bail. The Magistrate said that when the notice of appeal was put in proper form lie would fix the security for appeal, and allow bail in £25.