CHARGE OF THEFT.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1927, Page 3

CHARGE OF THEFT.

(Before ,J. G. L. Hewitt, Esq., S.AI.)

This morning the Police charged Percy Thomas Timmins, and George Casey, alias Kassey, alias George Xasseyliauin, with theft of Co Us. the property of William Jones. Both accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded not guilty.

Evidence was led as follows: Yillin in Jones, an old African

sworn, stated he was an old age pensioner residing in one of Al.elnto.sirs lints on the south side of the river, bus in his bed on Thursday at 7 p.ni.. when the door was shoved open. He went to strike u light, and two men came in. The smallest one said lie had plenty to cat hut wanted some ten. They made some tea ami also put on the fire some tilings in a hilly. The big man nut wood on the fire. After they had a feed they were very socialite. Then the liig man took out- a knife and stuck it in a box alongside the lied, close to his face. He was not sure the knile produced was the one. While the tall man was talking to witness the other man was .searching his place. Alter a little while the smaller man said: ‘‘Are yon satisfied,” and witness said: " Yes.” The man looked on the shell’ where the silver was. on the table opened boxes and parcels. Did not actually see them taking anything out of Ins pockets, lie was in his bunk, with one man sitting alongside. 11 is five pound notes were in his watch pocket of the vest, pinned in., i in-re weie ahi nit Us in siiYer on the shelf. When the men left he got up and looked for his pound notes and tin’ silver ami found it was all gone, lie recognised the tall man in the dock. Timmins. llis vest had been shoved back, lie found a threepenny piece on the ground afterwards. The men staved about two hours. It was raining hard most of the time.

Paul Renton deposed he was an iioumouger residing at South Hokitika. On Thursday night u man came on to the verandah and gave the door a violent shake. II is son went to the door and found a man there in a brown suit. The Ross train came along at that time. Witness then went out to the load and saw his son talking to two men. lie recognised the two men present. They had a small bag like a sugar bag. three parts full. lie had no doubt the two men were the ones lie saw. It was iust before 7 p.m. It had been raining a little, but not at tlie time. lie was ciM.su to tlie men— ! to 5 feet away. t i 7.. .1 I I :

Raul Renton. Jr., deposed be was a son of the last witness. He was at home on Thursday night when a man came to. the door. It was Casey. He answered the dour. The man asked if he knew there was a It tit he could camp in for the night. Went out to the road and then saw another man and Richard Yoimgmnn, who had piloted the Ross train across the bridge. He had told them of the hut at .Mclntosh's, and they went along the road towards tlm hut. The smaller man said they only had a few bob lott- and would have to go gingerly. He identified the two men ill the dock. His eyes had been tested as lie was longsighted.

Thomas Gillooly deposed lie was the licensee of the Pioneer Hotel at Hokitika. Last Thursday the two accused came to his hotel about I p.m. Casey paid Is for a drink and said be was getting very light. Then the other paid for two drinks with a 2s piece. They said they came from Waikato. He sent them to Air Alelntosh for work and they went away. That night between 9 and 1(1 p.m. they came back to the hotel’, and paid for lied and breakfast paving 1s each. Next morning lie had to go to Kumara and lie told them he would take them there to see if thev could get a job. They went to Kumara and tame back to Hokitika. Before that they went down the street and on return they said they had gone to tile- Post Office and had got a pound advance ol their bank book. On Saturday Casey changed a pound note and gave IQs to his mate. He recognised the knife produced. He saw it oil Thursday night. Timmins had it. To accused Casey—You told witness you were going to till* Post Office to collect C j from the North Island. Witness was prepared to swear the men were not in- the room on Thursday before 8.30 to !) p.m.

John James Mclntosh deposed he was licensee of the Red Lion Hotel. Last Thursday evening the two accused came to his hotel about 5.50 p.m. Had a drink. Said they had conic to bin, to look for hush work. That they were Casey Bros, from tho North Island. Told them to go for work to the mills and come back it not successful. Shouted a drink and lelt them. Five minutes alter they had gone. Did not see them again till Saturday morning. William Jones lives in a hut belonging to witness at South Hokitika. He is a fine old man. Patrick L. Dougherty deposed he is a police constable. He saw the two men on Friday. Talked with them. On Saturday saw them again and later arrested them.

Alexander C'owie deposed lie was licensee of Post Office Hotel. On Saturday both the two accused came into tlic hotel for a drink and paid tor the drink with a pound note > Bank <>i N.Z.). Later refused them another drink and turned them out.

Charles J. King (Sergt. of Police) deposed on Saturday morning A\ illiam Jones came to the office and reported that two men had come to his Imt and that lie was short of Co 1 Is. Later Timmins was identified by Jones. ITe failed to identify Casey. Witness obtained a. statement from Timmins as to his movements, stating they arrived at Hokitika on Thursday at I p.m.. went to the Pioneer Hotel where they had ten, and stayed there all night, not going out. Allien searched. 1 imniins had a knife and some bs and Casey no money. Roth swore they were not across the river on Thill.sday night. Edward Mark Best, deposed he was a constable. Arrested the two men. Timmins had 17s 2!d and a knife, and Casev no money.

The accused. Casey gave evidence that they left Auckland on June 12. and reached Christchurch, then coming on ai'.uig tire line and reached Greymouth. leaving there on Wednesday last, coming to Hokitika on Ihursday afternoon. Went to Stuart’s mill, and then went to the Pioneer Hotel and Giliooly sent them to Mr Mclntosh. Afterwards went hack to the Pioneer Hotel and saw Mrs Giilooly about o'clock, and did not leave the hotel again that night. Had £2 18s when they reached Hokitika and his mate had about. 17s.

Cross-examined witness denied having told Giilooly that he had obtained one pound at the Post Office. Oil Sergt. King questioning witness as to his previous career, objected to the question as to previously having been in trouble. His AA orship overruled the objection and Sergt. King handed in a list to which the witness agreed that some were correct and some were not. He admitted a conviction for theft. The other accused did not give evidence.

His Worship summing up said they had the evidence of the man robbed. It was given quite clearly and he was a man of good character. The accused stated that they were never across Hokitika river. There were two wit-

nesses who gave undoubted evidence that the men were there. They were then looking for a hut to stay the night, hut they fame back to the hotel that night after the robbery was alleged to have taken place. Casev admitted a list of previous convictions.

His "Worship said this was the meanest kind of tbelt. He would sentence them both to one year’s imprisonment with hard labour at Paparea Gaol.