THEFT CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1932, Page 5

THEFT CHARGE

GIRL ACQUITTED APPLAUSE GREETS VERDICT. *' i ( By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 3. An allegation that one of th e Crown witnesses, and not .the accused, stole the money was made to-day in the defence in a case in which Charlotte lv.t.u i.; on trial on an allegation that on March 25 she stole £723 in money from “he Constable Stre'et premises of .Low Foo, a Chino'e fruiterer.

The evidence given by the accused was that the suggestion to rob Low Foo came from a man, Chapman, and that she tried to prevent him from doing it, but that Chapman went to the premises of Low Foo and forced his way in. She became frightened, arid knowing that, once the money was gone she would naturally be suspected, she therefore, left the premises. Chapman, under cross-examination by the defence counsel, denied every suggestion of this sort. He also denied that he was at Low Foo’s on the. night. of the robbery. After a trial lasting for a day and n half, Charlotte Kaiu, who is a Hawaiian, aged 26, was found not guilty jn the Supreme Court to-day of having stolen £723 In bank notes from Low Foo, Chinese fruiterer, of 74 Constable. Street,

A Crown witness, Reginald Chapman, a. married relief worker, told of a conversation with the nocured in which he .said she admitted taking the money on the night of March '25 when she stayed at Low’s shop. From the witness box, the accused asserted that Low carried oil prostitution on a large scale. .She alleged that Chapman threatened, ,i ; n a conversation with 'her, to take money -from Low, and on the night of March 25, called ,at the shop. Low was asleep, and witness went to the door to ask Chapman to depart. She asserted that Chapman forced his way in, and was present when she went ; to reassure' Low, who was awakened by the noise, ■ / ;

The Chief Justice, summing up, described the case as a sordid drama. When the verdict was announced, there was applause, which was promptly silenced. *