RIFLED TILL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 861, 3 January 1930, Page 1

RIFLED TILL

THEFT FROM HOTEL BAR The sum of £2 3s 5d was missing from the till in the bar of a City hotel yesterday. Austin Walker was seen behind the counter and was caught after a chase. In spite of an emphatic denial, he was convicted at the Police Court this morning and remanded for sentence on a charge of theft. Walker, a seaman, aged 35, was charged with stealing £2 3s sd, the property of John Charles Griflin. Mr. J. J. Hogben entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. The daughter of the licensee said she was away from the private bar when she heard the ring of money. Entering the room, she saw Walker come out from behind the counter. She taxed him with rifling the till, but he denied it. When she called her father, the man broke away. There was a shortage of £2 3s 5d in the till. Constable Jones said he arrested accused some distance away from the hotel, where he was chased by two other men. He had only 11s Id in his possession. Accused said he was a ship’s cook, but had lately been on compensation pay. He had gone into the bar, when a young woman came out and accused him of rifling the till. She had started to scream so he went out to the public bar. After he left the hotel he was accosted by two men. “They were like mad dogs,” said Walker. “They knocked me about and kicked me so I ran away.” Accused had a large abrasion above his right eye. “Do you think he got that by being kissed?” asked Mr. Hogben of the subinspector. Walker was convicted. He was remanded until Tuesday so that the subinspector could have inquiries made, the man not being known to the police. Bail was refused. “If I get a good report upon him, I shall take into consideration the fact that he will have had a few days in gaol,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M.