ALLEGED THEFT.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 735, 30 May 1922, Page 8

ALLEGED THEFT.

FROffl TUAKAU HOTEL, WAITRESS’ BELONGINGS STOLEN. . ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY. At the , Magistrate’s Court on Thursday before Mr E. W. Burton, SIM., a young man, aged 23 years, faboureir, was charged that on May 18th 1922, at Tuakau, he stole from the dwelling of William James Taylor, One gold bangle valued; at £G, £7 in cash, the p v opeiV L y' of Miss Edith Sprigley, being an /indictable offence. », Accused was ' not represented by counsel. Miss Edith Emily Sprig-ley waitress, employed at the Tuakau Hotel, said on May iSth last she left £7 in cash and a gold bangle in her bedroom, in the top drawer of the duchess. The money consisted of a £5 note and two single notes, and a gold bangle valued at £6. The £5 note and the gold bangle were produced. Witness missed the articles upon returning to her bedroom in the afternoon after dinner. This would be about 1> p.m. She saw ‘accused about the hdtel during the morning but not after dinner. Witness informed two young men of her loss 1 .

' Edward Daniel Lazar, horse trainer residing at Tuakau, said on May 18th Mrs Taylor informed him that some money had been taken from the hotel. As a result he, accompanied by a young man named Taylor, went to Mercer and there saw the accused near Ithe railway station. They accosted accusad about

stealing Miss Sprigley’s money, and after some time he admitted stealing the money and the bangle. He handed over the bangle and £3 10s of “.he money. They detained accused at Mercev until the police arrived:. They handed over accused at the police station also the money and bangle to Constable Horan. Edward John Taylor, labourer, residing s)t Whangarata corroborated the evidence given by the last witness. t Arthur Kerr, licensee of the Railway Hotel, Mercer, said on May 18th he remembered the accused going into bis hotel. He purchased a bottle of stout and tendered him a £5 note. Witness gave accused the stout and £4 18s 7d change made up of 4 single notes, a ten shilling note and the balance silver. Accused went away almost immediately afterwards. Witness subsequently handed the £5 note to Constable Horan.. Constable Je.emiah HcM'an, of Mercer. sa,id on May 18th he arrested the accused at Mercer on the charge of stealing a gold bangle and £7 in cash He was then be.iing detained by the /two witnesses, Lazar and Taylor. He admitted the charge and made the following statement : “I came to Tuakau yesterday from Otaua. I walked Hi from Otaua. I had been working on a farm theie for a Mr Hayes. I got a bit stunned alt Tuakau. 1 stayed jin the Tuakau Hotel last night arid paid my way. I went to a room in the hotel and 'took a bangle and £7 in cash.. I do not know who they belong to. It was some fine jto-day that I took them. I hired a motor car to bring me over to Mercer..- I pa it} 1 the motor driver 25s to bring me over. About 4 p.mfj I met two men ait Mercer who said I was suspected of stealing a bangle and money. I admitted thrit I had taken the goods and gave them the bangle and £3 10s in cash.j I had spent the balance of the caslv ” Accused made the statement which witness took down in writing and which accused refused to sign. On searching accused witness found a further £l 17s 10%d. Later witness recovered the £5 note produced from Mr Kerr, licensee of the Railway otel, Mercer, and it was identical with the one reported to have been stolen. Accused who had nothing to say,' pleaded guilty and was commited toj the Supreme Court for sentence.