LOOKING FOR VICTIMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 213, 28 November 1927, Page 1

LOOKING FOR VICTIMS

FIVE CHARGED WITH FELONIOUS INTENT POCKETS OF RACE CROWD \ PARTY of five men alleged v to have been engaged in the labour of sorting out suitable victims for a pickpocket, operating in the Takapuna race crowd, were arrested at Devonport early on Saturday evening. The party consisted of Walter Raymond Sutherland, aged 41; Jack Larkin, aged 33; Trevor Leonard Richard Cunningham, aged 35; Victor Henry Thomas, aged 30, and John Henry Fitzgerald, aged 39. The first four were charged at the Police Court to-day with being idle and disorderly, and frequenting Victoria Road, Devonport, with felonious intent. Fitzgerald, charged only with being idle and disorderly, and Larkin and Sutherland, were remanded to appear to-morrow. Thomas pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. Detective White said that he saw Thomas and his companions associating with drunken men at Devonport. on Saturday. A BAD PARTY “When a party like that gathers together,” he said, “it is not for the good of anybody’s health. The men were going through the race crowd, sorting out likely people for the ‘hook,’ or pickpocket.” Witness said that one drunken man had been robbed by the “hook.” Thomas was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for being idle and disorderly, and convicted and ordered to come up for sentence on the second charge.

Cunningham pleaded guilty to the charge of being idle and disorderly, and the second charge against him was withdrawn. Chief-Detective Cummings said that, accused had become associated with the party -while in liquor. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence any time within two years. THE“HOOK”CHARGED Boe Griffis, aged 28, was charged with stealing £1 from William MeNearman. In asking for a remand until next Monday, Chief-Detective Cummings said that accused had been picking pockets at Devonport.