THEFT OF GOODS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10286, 22 May 1919, Page 3

THEFT OF GOODS

WEST INDIAN FOUND NOT GUILTY. James Arthur Pollard, alias Archie Taylor, the West Indian -who had previously been convicted or breaking ana entering and then, was brought beiore the Supremo Court yesterday to answer a further charge of a similar nature. His Honour jMr Justice Hosking was on the bench. Mr P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown, but the accused was not represented bv counscd. Mr J. Handler was foreman of the jury. The charge to which Pollard pleaded not guilty was that of 'breaking and entering and thclt from the premises of Messrs Cody and Co., in Courtenay place, on March 19th. of clothing and material valued at .£IBO. The evidence for the prosecution disclosed that the accused and a white man called at the shop n few' days prior to tho thclt. They asked for a'roel of silk and also inquired if a piece of silk was stocked. Accused, took some patterns of piece silk away with him. Both men returned to the shoo later in tho day and each purchased a pair of gloves, but made no mention of the piece silk. On the morning of March £oth Mr Cody discovered that some of the contents of tho shop had been stolen. Entrance had boon gained through a small window at tho back of the shop, the bars across the window having been removed. Accused’s house at No. 5. Alpha street, was searched bv Detective-Sergeant Andrews and Constable Black, but none of the stolen property was found. Subsequently a search was made in tho house of Elisabeth Mitchell, accused's mother-in-law, at 4-GO. Evans Bay road, arid certain articles which had been stolen from Oodv’s premises were found. After a short retirement the jury returned a verdict of not. guilty.