“THE OLD TRICK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 543, 21 December 1928, Page 1

“THE OLD TRICK”

THEFT OF PURSE LABOURER SENT TO GAOL George Caffrey, who pleaded guilty at the Police Court last Monday to stealing a purse and contents valued at £3 5s from Frederick Ward, was again charged this morning, Mr. J. F. W. Dickson having asked permission to alter the man’s plea. Mr. Ward said that when Vie went into the bar of a city hotel Caffrey had grabbed him, shortly after which he missed his purse. In answer to Mr. Dickson, witness admitted that he was under the influence of liquor, but said that he was not aware that he had been arrested for drunkenness.

Caffrey, alias Jackson, a labourer, aged 33, said that he knew nothing of the theft of the money. He had been .quietly sitting on a barrel when Ward had grabbed him shouting that he had been robbed. The man sitting beside him in the hotel was an elderly fireman, but was not known to witness. Ele had disappeared before the police arrived. Chief-Detective Hammond: You knew him all right. Counsel asked the magistrate to consider tlie case as if he were a jury. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.: I have a right to use my common sense.

Mr. Dickson: Magistrates hear so many different stories that they would, hesitate to believe the Archangel Gabriel Mr. Hunt: Don’t talk nonsense. How many of your clients have I let off? “It is the old trick,” commented the magistrate, as hd sentenced Caffrey to one month’s imprisonment. Mr. Dickson expressed his intention to appeal.