TE KUITI POLICE COURT.
Tuesday, July 6, 1909
Before Messas Tammadge and Sims, J's.P. Thomas George Hall was charged on the information of Constable Owen of Ongarue,with the theft of a portmanteau and a bottle of whisky. Mr Sharpies appeared for Hall and pleaded not guilty. The facts of the case were that a number of men were in a whare occupied by a man namd Rodewald at Ongarue on Saturday evening last. The gathering was enlivened by the introduction of several* bottles of whisky, and those present all became more or less under the influence. Before leaving the whare a bottle of whisky was placed in a portmanteau belonging to Rodewald which was hanging on the wall. Next morning th* portmanteau was missing, and it was subsequently obtained by th owner from the Police. Evidence to this effect was given by Herbert Edward Rodewald. In reply to Mr Sharpies witness said he had no reason to think accused would come to take the portmanteau. Had accused wanted the whisky he would have been weclome to it, and also to the portmanteau to carry it in. P. J. Francois gave evidence as to seeing the whisky placed in the portmanteau.
N. E. Ashdown stated in evidence tba,t he met accused on the night in question. Accused said he thought he could find another bottle. They went toward 4 Rodewald's whare. When about a chain away accused went towards an unoccupied whare; the others waited. Presently they saw accused coming towards them and the party went to meet him. Witness saw a portmanteau near the fer.ee and put it inside -the door of the unoccupied whare. Shortly afterwards the'.all went home. Witness met the Constable who mentioned something about a missing portmanteau to him. Witness told the Constable of the portmanteau he had seen and told him where he, the witness,' had put it. David Jones gave evidence as to being with the party on the night in question. He and Ashdown had taken accused, who was intoxicated, home to his lodgings. To Mr Sharpies: Did not see accused with a portmanteau. Constable Owen related his conversation with Ashdown reagrding a portnd finding the bag in the unoccupied whare. Rodewald subsequently identified the portmanteau as his.
Mr Sharpies submitted there was no case to answer and called no evidence for the defence. The Bench held there was nothing more than suspicion and dismissed the case.
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King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 171, 8 July 1909, Page 2
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404TE KUITI POLICE COURT. King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 171, 8 July 1909, Page 2
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