71 CHARGES OF THEFT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1920, Page 4

71 CHARGES OF THEFT

OPERATIONS IN AUCKLAND SHOPS AUCKLAND, July 14. A man of German birth, named Louis von Einem, 47 years of age, who had hitherto been known in a small circle in the city as a gardener of mild manner, and given to attending strictly to his own business, appeared before Mr Wilson, S.M., this morning, as the alleged author of a series of most expert .shop-lifting operations which have yet disturbed the peace, happiness and profits of the shopkeeper* of Auckland. Aboil I half-past ii o’clock one morning last month Cbmstable Holt surprised this nian tampering with a locked case at one of Messrs Whiteombe & Tombs’s island windows in Queens street, and despite his explanation that lie was attending to the firm’s business, the man was taken to the Police Station. From what was found on the man and was discovered subsequently at his lodgingroom, the police made a collection of goods (nearly all new goods), valued at just over £4OO. Just on four weeks were spent hv Sergeant Dempsey and Constable Holt in finding owners for tlie property. Their search resulted in about sixty shop-keepers about the city and suburbs identifying £2BO worth of millinery, drapery, jewellery, and mercery, which laid disappeared from their several shops during tile past eighteen months.

As a result, von Eiiiem had put against him 69 charges of theft of goods taken from various shops, etc., and valued at £278 3s 2d. ; one charge of theft of unidentified goods, valued at £lO4 ; and one charge of theft of £2l worth of goods at Wellington. One section of the Courtroom, in which the goods were displayed, had the appearance of a wellstocked sample room. Bottles of bay rum hob-nobbed with delicate and intimate underwear fabrics that ladies affect; suitcases.and brief bags were interspersed with Stetson, 1 velour, felt, and tweed hats; a stylish toque was perched saucily on a typewriter; a smart evening gown gave a touch of colour to the corner given over to several portions of tailor-made units ; a pair of modish brown boots (number tens) rivalled in dimensions a Corona typewriter; while fountain pens of a variety of makes and mounts appeared in company with several watches, a couple of umbrellas, thermos flask, and a lady’s hair switch. If there were any departure from catholicity of taste displayed, it was, perhaps in the matter of fountain pens and hats. Among the assortment put forward as stolen goods there went 17 fountain pens (many of them gold-mounted), which were identified and claimed, and 68 were unclaimed. There were 11 hats claimed by local shopkeepers, and half a dozen not yet identified, and ranging from a six-guinea Stetson by way of velours and felts down to work-a-day tweed hats. The hearing of the eases occupied all day, and bad not concluded when the Cfhirt adjourned.