POLICE SUSPICIOUS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 993, 9 June 1930, Page 10

POLICE SUSPICIOUS

FATE OF TWO MISSING HANDBAGS GAOLED FOR VAGRANCY Visits to city premises, after which handbags were missed by women, led to the arrest of Francis Halligan. Chief-Detective Hammond hinted at the Police Court this morning that Halligan was responsible for a part of the bag-snatching that had been prevalent in Auckland recently, and, on a vagrancy charge, he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Halligan, described as a fruit hawker, aged 33, pleaded not guilty through Mr. F. W. Schramm to being idle and disorderly, having insufficient lawful means of support. The proprietress of the Cameo Girls’ Club, in the Union Buildings, said accused had paid several visits to the club on the pretext that he was looking for his cousin. He had given his name as Carruthers. After one of his visits, witness had missed her bag, containing £7 15s. She had not seen accused since. A young woman employed at the club also said she had seen Halligan at the club. He had entered the room before she noticed him.

Two or three visits had been made by accused to the Auckland Rugby Beague office, according to a clerk who was employed there. On one occasion witness had left the office for about five minutes, and saw accused coming out when she returned. Her bag, containing 345, was found to be missing, Stanley Haines, an employee of the Railway Department, living at Grey Avenue, was asked by Mr. F. K. ITunt, S.M., to remove the substance he was chewing so vigorously. His mouth emptied, he said he had shared a room with accused, who boarded at the house about six weeks. As far as witness knew, he had done no work during that time. His story was that he had been contracting before he came to Auckland. Witness had not missed any money from the house during accused’s stay, but another boarder had. Detective ITunt, who arrested Halligan, said he had been discharged at Wellington on April 21. He had said he then had £7, but according to prison records he had only £1 Is 7d. He had more than that sum when arrested, and admitted he had done no work. There had been many handbag thefts during the last six weeks, but not since accused was arrested a wgek ago. Mr. Schramm said accused’s mother, in Hamilton would take him back. There were suspicious circumstances in the case, but Halligan had been looking for work in Auckland. He had been in gaol a week since his arrest. “Is that all you have to say?” asked the magistrate of counsel. Mr. Schramm: Yes. Magistrate; Three months.