A MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2337, 2 November 1908, Page 7

A MIDNIGHT VISITOR.

ALLEGED THEFT IN A HOTEL

At the Magistrate’s Court, on Saturday, before Air. W. A. Barton, S.M., a man named James John Isaac Todd was. charged with having, on October 31st. 1908, stolon £l3 in money and >a rolled gold watch, the property of Robert Nicol. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was represented by Air. H. Bright, while Sergt. Hutton conducted the prosecution.

Robert Nicol, laborer, stated that ho was a boarder at the. Record Reign Hotel, and on the night of October 30th. ho retired to his room about 11.30. At this time he had in his trouser’s pocket. £l3 in notes, and three of four shillings in silver. He also had a rolled gold watch, and when he went to bed he placed his trousers and vest under his pillow. When he awoke in the morning all his money was gone and also his watch. He occupied a room with another man, who was in bed when ho went to his room, and was still in bed when witness got up. To Air. Bright: He was perfectly sober when he went to bed and counted the notes in his bedroom.

Raymond John Wells, laborer, of Pahiatua, stated that he shared room No. 12 at the Record Reign Hotel with the previous witness. He went to bed about 10.15 p.m. and out of three beds in the room only two were occupied. When Nicol went to bed witness saw him putting big clothing under his pillow, and when he woke in the morning the clothes were on the ground. Witness’ ..clothes were also tampered with and he had missed 5s from his pockets. Alexander Tate, night-porter at the Record Reign Hotel said that lie saw the accused come out of room No. 14 at the hotel about 12.35 a.m. on Saturday. Accused went into No. S .and remained there a few minutes then going back to No. 14. Again he came out of N. 14 and went into No. 12 where he stayed for a time, and then returned to No. 14. When the police burst in the door of No. 14 on Saturday morning, about 6 a.m., accused was dn the mm. When accused was going from room to room he was dressed in a blue shirt or pyjama jacket similar in color to the 6hirt produced. To Air. Bright: The passage was lighted by one gag jet at the top of the staircase, and it was turned down low, but was sufficiently high for a person to be able to see. He recognised the accused by the color of his shirt and dark trousers, but could not identify him by his features. To the Bench: He was fairly confident that the accused was the man he had seen going into the different •rooms. There was another man in the room with accused, and he was lying in bed apparently asleep while accused was in No. 12.

Thomas Blair, laborer, gave evidence of having occupied room No. 8 at the Record Reign Hotel on the night in question. He retired at 10.15, and about 1 a.m. he heard a match strike in the room and on his looking round the match went out again. Sydney Rawle, detective, , said that in consequence of information received, he, Sergt. Hutton, and. Constable Pratt went to the Record Reign Hotel. They knocked at room No. 14. They attempted to burst the door after which they heard sertheone on the inside, trying to unlock it. . The door was then burst open, and they found the .accused in the room. He had occupied the bed nearest the door; the bed being in such a position that when the door was opened any person passing could not see on to the bed. Witness searched accused’s bed .and found underneath the mattress a £5 note, 12 £l. notes, and a portion of another £1 note. When searching accused’s. pockets witness found half a sovereign and 23s 6d an silver. Witness charged accused with the present offence .and he mad© no reply. The other bed in No. 14 was directly opposite the door and in full view of the pagsage. The occupant of that bed, a man named Healy, is .a man of very fair hair, red face, taller than accused, almost entirely bald, and clean shaven. This concluded the evidence, and on application of Air. Bright, a remand was granted until Wednesday, October 4th. Bail was allowed, accused in £IOO and two sureties of £SO.