HOTEL ROBBERY

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1930, Page 4

HOTEL ROBBERY

AN ARREST MADE. (Grey “Argus.”) On Tuesday night last, the licensed premises of Mr Laurence F. Martin licensee of the Moana Hotel wfere broken jnto and about a. dozen bottles cif spirits were stolen. The bar is (at 1 present located temporarily in the Moana Hall, owing to the hotel having recently been destroyed by fire, until the hotel is rebuilt. It was found that the thief had used a hacksaw nr order to cut through a staple that held the chain of the lock. The theft had evidently been committed at midnight on Tuesday. The matter was taken in hand. M by Constable J Rodgers of Brunner, who on Thursday night went to Kokutu at 11 o’clock, and remained there for four hours, watching the movements of. a man whom he suspected of being the guilty party. Leaving at 3 aim., he returned again at an early hour yesterday morning to Kotuku, where he made a search in the bush, and continued it until midday, when his . efforts were rewarded until success.' The constable' located a plant of bottles' containing whisky brandy, gin and' beer. These,, he ascertained, corresponded with those abstracted from the bar. Constable Rodgers’ next, move was to proceed to Jack Bros’ sawmill in the neighbourhood, where he- arrested the man whom he suspected of committing the theft' The arrested man was last evening brought to Greymouth, and lodged at the lock-up by Constable Rodgers. The prisoner, will this morning be’charged with the offence at the Greymouth j Magistrate’s Court.