A BRITISH OFFICER’S FATE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 277, 28 August 1872, Page 3

A BRITISH OFFICER’S FATE.

Pascal Larkins, a man of gentlemanly manners and appearance, stated to have been an officer in the army, was charged at the Sandridge Police Court, on the Bth August, with stealing from Herbert Wallis, late a midshipman on board the Agamemnon, but now without employment, a gold watch, chain, seal, and key, value £32. The complainant stated that on the 26th ult. he was staying at the London Hotel, in Beach-street, when he encountered the prisoner, whom he had seen some five months before in Sandridge. He said he was very hard up. Witness took him home to the hotel, gave him a “feed, and told him he might occupy his (witness’s) bedroom. When the latter returned he found prisoner in bed, and changing his own clothes, ho again went out, leaving the watch, &c., in his waistcoat pocket in the room. When he came back a short time after all had vanished, and he had not seen his property again until fourdavs ago in the hands of the police. Leonard Levy, pawnbroker of high-street, St. Kilda, had lent the prisoner £l3 on the watch and chain, at about midday on the 30th July. Wanted £2O, called himself Barnes babbington, of the George Hotel, St. Kilda, and said he was au officer in the English army, who was hard up, and wanted the money to him to Port Darwin. Gave immediate information to the police when he saw the watch advertised in the stolen property list. Detective O’Callaghan arrested tho prisoner on Monday evening in the City Lounge. He said he did take them. He was hungry, and had had nothing to eat for two days. The bench decided to deal summarily with the charge, and sentenced the prisoner, who admitted his guilt, to six months’ hard labour, but did not make an order for the restitution of the pledged property', so the unlucky’ midshipman will not have to 11 keep his watch after all.