CHARGE OF THEFT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 10

CHARGE OF THEFT

YOUNG MAN FOR TRIAL

Charged with breaking and entering and stealing ten bottles of cordial valued at 15s, Edward George Sydney Foster, aged 19, appeared before Messrs. W. Fitzgerald and L. Blacker, J.P.s in the Petone Court today.

Mr. W. P. Coles appeared for the dafence and Detective W. McLennan con ducted the case for the police.

Thomas Joseph Walsh, licensee of the Grand National Hotel, said that he retired to bod about 12.45 a.m. on October . 7 after having gone round the hotel to see that the premises were secure. About 1.45 a.m. he was awakened by a taxi driver named Follis, and as a result of what ho was told he investigated and found the accused in the sit-ting-room which was in darkness. There was another man outside the window keeping guard. There were six bottles of cordial on the verandah, and the remainder were on the couch in the sit-ting-room. The accused said the window had been left open, and he had gone through. He denied taking the bottles. The bottles were kept in the storeroom, the door of which looked as though it had been interfered with. George Hallam said that at 1.30 a.m. he was mending a puncture outside the hotel, when the defendant came and borrowed a torch from him to look for some friends. A companion named Follis called witness over to the hotel, and he saw the accused through the window in the sitting-room. The accused had bottles in every pocket, and, on being questioned, said that he had bought them. The accused handed over the bottles. Hallam said that he detained the accused until Mr. Walsh arrived.

Constable B. A. Morris said that the accused explained that he went through the open window for a drink, but denied taking the bottles. He was under the influence of liquor.

Constable H. McNamara gave evidence of finding on the floor of the storeroom a button with a particle of wool attached to it. The button was similar to those on the accused's coat. There was a button missing from the coat, and the ends of wool on the coat from where tho button was missing were similar to those attached to the button found in the storeroom.

The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho Supreme Court at Wellington for trial. Bail was renewed.