MISSING FROM TILL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 8

MISSING FROM TILL

BAND CONCERT TAKINGS WAR PENSIONER CHARGED [Per Press Association.! WELLINGTON. Feb. 13. Patrons at a band concert in the King’s Theatre last night voluntarily invited a police search of them while investigations v .e made into the c'is- ! appearance from the till of a sum of money. I Several people emptied their pockets I and then permitted the police to {search them. The incident was described in the Magistrate’s Court, when I Jonas Friendlander. war pensioner, ■ was charged with the theft of £6, the property of the Boys' Institute Band. Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle said i the concert, was given to raise funds [to enable the band to go to Christchurch for th? competition. During ■the concert money received from pat- ; rons was placed in the till. Accused was telephone attendant, the instrument being near the till. The cashier was called away, leaving accused the i only person in the vicinity of the till. ‘ Returning two minutes later the ! cashier missed a £5 note and accused I Isaid that, a bandsman had helped him- j self. The matter was reported to the i 1 police and a number of people were | interviewed. Some volunteered to be j searched. Accused said he knew nothing about it and said he had no objection to being searched. He said that £1 6s Id in his pocket was all he had. He pulled out of his trousers pocket a handkerchief and a detective heard a rustle of paper and found a £5 note and £1 in the handkerchief. Accused said it was his own money. Evidence corroborating Detective Doyle’s statement was given by a detective. At this stage accused applied for a remand to enable him to engage counsel. A remand was granted on bail of £lO.