Tie Breakwater Robbery.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7833, 27 May 1905, Page 2

Tie Breakwater Robbery.

HBMAIIIvS FROM THE BENCH. On Friday the young man Christopher Grtvthvell, found guilty of stealing the sum of £4 10s at the Hreakwater Hotel 011 Saturday nighl last, was brought up at the Police Court for sentence. 1 Sergeant Ttaddrell presented a ivport on the Inquiries he had made, and stated, lliat the police had definitely ascertained thai there was mi previous conviction against the uceused. Ho remarked, however, tnati a watch that had hwon stolen in Wellington in September lust was found in the prisoner's possession, Grudwell had informed the police that he purchased it in England two and a hall' years a'go. . The S.M. remarked that the report was not a very enmuraigiin;,' one, and there wer« also suspicious circumstances surrounding prisoner':! last position. Ilowever, ho coul ! not allow suspicious circumstances to materially influence him, and t would discharge him under the Firs- ' Offenders' Act, on proihation fci throe months.

I Mr T. S. Weston, who appeared in conjunction with the police for the prosecution, made an explanation .which he thought necessary in conseU[uenqe of .some remarks by the S.M. ; i Counsel stated that Mr T. Knowles. licensee of the Breakwater Hotel, .would have bfeen very pleased to have been relioved of the responsibility and trouble of the prosecution, but as a licensed hotelkeeper ho had a duty to perform in using his (best I endeavours, in the interests of the public, to check the thefts that had occurred at the hotel. If he hnd not I one so the circumstances would no Boubt have been l brought under the notice of the Licensing IScnch, to the Hetrhnemt of the licensee. I The S.M. said he did not rcmombjor commenting on the prosecution, feut |rathcr on the method of securing it. I Mr Weston explained that ho had been consulted by the licensee, and personally recommended that a trap should ibe laid in order to determine iwhether the accused was the party guilty of tfie depredations that, had occurred. Ho argued that the trap ,was necessary in n case of this kind, and thought tho police were to ibe Commended on 1 the worthy steps taken to shoet homo the guilt. | The S.M. did not regard l anything , aa wortKy that was a lie on the face of it. He agreed, however, that |it was Mr Know:es' duty as an hotel- ; (keeper to Keep his promises free from , .crime, as otherwise the licensing J Committee would certainly have taken notice ofll it. The matter then ended. ; A FURTHER CHARGE. [ .The accused, who was liberated on probation, was subsequently arresl,ed by Detective Benjamin, on warrant from Wellington, the chargeibeing the theft of a watch from T. ' Sincla'ir in September last nt Welhngton. Aqcused will be brought :be- ' fore tha Court this morning.