A SMART ARREST

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1931, Page 2

A SMART ARREST

Constable 'Matches was responsible for some smart detective work. The theft o>f an overcoat was reported to the police at Westport on Sunday morning by A. J. Green and Co., and to Constable Matches was delegated the duty of trying to find the thief. After some investigation he learned that an overcoat, answering to the description given was seen on board the s.s.' Komata and the Constable made further inquiries and was told that the party in possession claimed to have pur chased it from a member of-the ship’s culinary department. The latter, i.i turn, was interviewed and stated he was given the coat by a trimmer on the s.s. Kaponga with a request that he should try and sell it. To the Kaponga, the Constable went, and interviewed the trimmer who stated be bought the coat at a football match from a miner, the miner, he stated, saying he was up against it and wanted* the money. The tale appeared to be very plausible but was not accepted at its face value by Constable Hatches, who further pressing his inquiries, learned that Green and Co- s premises were closed during tjte afteinoon and the coat was not put outside until after 5 p.m. When Messrs W. T. Slee and C. D. Betts, Justioes, heard the full story, they had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that William Charles Warwick, the trimtper, had stolen the coat and convicted him imd ordered him to make rcstituion to the seaman to whom the coat was sold for £2 15a and besides, imposed a fine of £3, in default, one month’s imprisonment.