TILL RIFLED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20729, 13 February 1939, Page 8

TILL RIFLED

THEFT OF BAND FUNDS CONCERT PATRONS SEARCHED CHARGE AGAINST ATTENDANT <By Telegraph.—Pre;s Association) WELLINGTON. Monday Patrons at a band concert at the King’s Theatre last night invited the police to search them when investigations were made into the disappearance from the till of a sum of money. Several emptied their pockets and permitted the police to search them. The incident was described in the Magistrate's Court to-day when Jonas Friedlander, a war pensioner, was charged with the theft of £6. the property of the Boys’ Institute Band. Detective-Sergeant Doyle said the concert was given to raise funds to enable the band to go to Christchurch for a competition. The money received from patrons was placed in a till. Accused was a telephone attendant, the instrument being near the till. The cashior was called away leaving the accused the only person in the vicinity of the till. * Returning two minutes later the cashier missed a £5 note, and accused said a bandsman helped himself. The matter was reported to the police and a number of people were interviewed. Some volunteered to be searched. Accused said he knew nothing about it, and he had no objection to being searched. He said that £i 6s id in his pockets was all he had. He was holding a handkerchief and a detective heard a rustle of paper and found the £5 note and £1 in the handkerchief. Accused said it was his own money, continued Mr Doyle. Evidence corroborating Mr Doyle’s statement was given by a detective. At this stage accused applied for a remand to enable him to engage counsel. A remand until to-morrow was granted with bail in self for £lO.