A DARING THIEF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2292, 10 September 1908, Page 1

A DARING THIEF.

A FIREMAN FROM THE FLEET. GOES TO GAOL FOR 14 DAYS. The case of the theft of a hag from a tailor’s shop was investigated at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Messrs W. 1). Lysnar and J. W. Bright, J-l’.’s, when Thomas Williams was charged with having, on the previous day entered the shop of Geo. Halt and committed the theft of a brief bag and books and papers, valued at £1 4s. Accused, who is rather a diminutive person, and-rather of the appearance of a jockey, pleaded not guilty on the grounds of mistaken identity. Detective liawlo conducted the prosecution. Goo. Hall, tailor, said that he left the hag on a shelf near the counter when ho came to his shop in the morning. Liter, one of his employees told him that a man had just walked out of the shop and walked down the ■road: -Witness followed the ■ man down the road, but had not at that time missed anything. Tie identified accused as the man ho followed from his shop. Later on in tho .day Mr Harold Warren brought the hag into witness’ shop, and witness later on discovered tho hooks and papers in the outhouso of Mr Warren’s shop. When accused walked out of the shop he had his arm in front of him. Walter Pollock, employed by MiHall, said that ho saw .a man in the shop about 10 a.m. Ho (witness) was in a hack room looking into the shop. To the best- of his belief accused was the man whom he 'saw leaving tho shop, and whom he pointed out to Mr Hall. Ralph Snowden, tinsmith, employed by Mr Warron, 6aid that he discovered tho hag in all outhouse at tho rear of his premises about 10.30 a.m. on tho previous day. He slaw accused talking to Mr Warren in tho shop prior to finding the bag. Sidney llawlo stated that lie arrested the accused and charged him with the offence. Accused 6aid that he knew nothing about it at all. A pocket knife was found in accused’s possession when arrested, hut ho had not then got tho hag. In answer to a question from the Bench, Detective ltawle stated that tho accused man was a stranger to Gisborne, and had only come into town the previous evening. Accused had at first refused to give any information as to where he had come from or as to iliis antecedents; hut later oil had told Constable Doyle that ho was a discharged fireman from the American EJeet. Accused denied having told this fact to the constable, hut the Bench held that the offence was proved against the accused, and iho was convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labor in the Gisborne gaol.