"FLEECED."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 264, 8 November 1901, Page 2

"FLEECED."

DISASTROUS VISIT TO A RAOBCOURSE. FSB I-KEBS ASSOCIATION Dunedin, November?. At the Police Cmrt William .Watt and his wife Susan Watt were charged with stealing .£347 from the p-rooa of Robert B. Paterson. Complainant had sold sime land, and received a cheque for £443 7a, which was cashed and he received eight fifty pound notes. Afer spending a week at Mosgiel Paterson went to Alexandra, where he changed one of tbe fifty pound notes. Attend* ing the last Wingatui races, he took some drink. The accused couple and a youog woman wera at the races and had borrowed money to go there. Watt, n?ar the end of the races', told his wife and the youog woman 'o go home, and he would try to get Paterson's "bit." Wat* travelled in the train with Fiterson. Later, on thoy visited several hotels, and a policamm found Paterson sitting on the steps of the Provincial flotl, with Watt standing by, Watt toll the oonstible he was a fiiend of Ptterson, and would see him to the train. As they were going towards the station the constable noticed Paterson fall helpl>s>, and he arrested him. When searched he had only one of the fifty pound notes oa him. Some days elapsed before Paterson reported Irs loss, and the Watts in the interval Wer» found to have given orders and paid cash. When the polios did go to their place no money was found. The coup'e left for tbe north in 'hdM'raroa, and the Christchurch polce werecommunioited with. It was found that W«'t had purchased some article* in Chris'church, and changf d a £SO note. When the detectives boarded the vessel and told their [ mission Mrs. Wattstid »be would give what she had, and took 39 one pound notes fi om her stocking. She said she aa w a m in give her hu <band a £SO no' e on tbe course. A s arch fail- d to reveil more money, but when thi couple and their luggtge returned to Dunedin the police noticed a screwdriver in a box, and noting that a piece of wood was fastt-ned to the box by screws this was remove!. In hols bored into the box, and plugged wi li wood, three fifty pound notes wer<> found. After hearing the evidence t u .e Court did not call on Mrs. Watt for an/ defence; but Wats was oranitted for trial, bail being gran'e).