UNUSUAL THEFT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 133, 22 June 1937, Page 5

UNUSUAL THEFT

-Prees ABBociation.)

Man Carried Hundreds of Pounds in Coat Pocket

(By Telegraph-

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. "This case arises out of a drunken • pree, your Worship, and the evidence >f the principal witness will be gome,vhat hazy," said Detective-Sergeant Jolmes in opening a case against .Martha Jane Dawson in the Magisrate's Court this morning. Dawson, a omestic aged 32, was c'harged with tealing £52, the property of Gordon Aircy Aston on J une 11. Aston, an electrical engineor, said he .ad been experimenting for a patent attorney. On June 10 he received a cheque for £320 which he.cashed, recciving 20 £5 notes and the rest in .Mngles. On June 11 he received a further £319 in cash. In addition witness had about £5 of h'is own, making a total of £684 in eash on Friday, June 11. On I une 10 and 11 he had had a f ew i.lrinks around the hotels, consuming irandy. He had had a few drinks with tVilliam Barnett, a taxi driver, who introduced him to the accused Dawson. He had most of the money in his overcoat pocket but there was some in other pockets. Ho had had a drink or two with Dawson and then went down to Hereford street between 6.30 and 7 p.m. He spoke to several people there. The caretaker of the flat suggested that he should hang his coat behind the kitchenette door, added Aston, where she could look al'ter lt. This he did. Later Dawson weut outside and witness took his overcoat into the flat proper. Then witness went to the kitchenette. During the time the overcoat was in the kitchenette the pockethad been safely pinned up. Witness ; went into the kitchenette for bacon j and eggs and the caretaker asked him t where his coat was. He rushed into ( the other room and found the pin unj; done. He then knew some of the money f was missing. The balance was counted ^ by the caretaker and amounted to £170. ( Witness considered that £390 had disJ appeared that night. The roll of £5 i notes was partially torn in tho centre. ij Several £5 notes were then produced ^ which witness admitted were similar to i th e ones in his possession then. "1 j never gave Ihe accused any of the >■, notes and she had no authority to have ^ possession of any of them," continued Aston. There was no one else in the [► room apart from accused to his know- ^ ledge. ^ Accused was commUted for trial.