BOBBING A DISCHARGED PRISONER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1135, 31 August 1882, Page 3

BOBBING A DISCHARGED PRISONER.

A. man named Johnston, who has for some time past been undergoing a lengthy sentence in Mount Eden Gaol, was recently discharged, with £2O “ exertion money ” in his pocket, to which he was entitled on his release, and which Mr O'Brien, the gaoler, paid to him in two notes of £lO each. No sooner did the news of this windfall reach the ears of the fraternity outside, who are ever on the outlook for discharged prisoners, than the “hawks” descended on their prey, and induced Johnston to adjourn to a house in Brewer's-lane, celebrated in the annals of the Police Court. On arrival there Johnston was persuaded to drink more than was good for him, and in doing so he produced and changed one of his two £lO notes. The keeper of the house, a woman named Maggie Carroll, seeing the money in his possession, which he injudiciously showed her, became very sympathetic, and persuaded Johnston to avail himself of her couch, and have a sleep. Accepting the hospitable offer, Johnston lay down in his clothes, and fell asleep. On awaking a few hours afterwards, and feeling in his pockets, he found to his surprise that his second £lO note had gone also. He at once demanded restitution from Maggie, but she stoutly protested her innocencq. Johnston, not feeling satisfied, appealed to Detective Brennan and Acting Detective Jones, who interviewed the woman, and patiently listened to her version of the affair. Her excessive grief over the loss of the money of her friend, however, roused their suspicions, and, after careful inquiry, they traced the missing £lO note to her, although in her innocence she. expressed her ignorance as to how it came into her possession. About 10 o'clock last night a man named Denis x O'Connor was wrested as an accompßoe in the affair, and later on Maggie . was also arrested. It is a pity that Johnston did not tumble across the ratio secretary of the Prisoners' Aid Society, who would gladly have taken care of the two £lO notes for him,—“N.Z. Herald.”