“RINGING THE CHANGES.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3185, 3 April 1911, Page 2

“RINGING THE CHANGES.”

AN ATTEMPT TO VICTIMISE BARMAIDS.

TWO CONVICTIONS RECORDED

At the Magistrate’s. Court on Saturday morning, before Mr W. A. Barton, S.M., two men named Robert Hunter, alias Geo. Wilson, and Edward Harrison alias Brown, alias Stanley, alias Parker, were charged with attempting to steal the sum of £1 from May Bates by means of a trick, to wit, “ringing the changes.” A further, charge was preferred against the aeeiised of having attempted to defraud Kate Barry of the sum of 10s in the same manner. Both accused pleaded l “not guilty. Accused Hunter was represented by Mr L. T. Burnard. Detective Connelly conducted the prosecution. May Bates, employed as barmaid at the Albion Hotel, stated that the accused, and another man, came to the hotel on Thursday . forenoon and had drinks, which Harrison ordered and paid for. The, 'men subsequently had another drink/ and Harrison left the bar. She thereupon asked Hunter who was going to pay for the latter drinks, and Hunter gave her a sovereign, asking for a pound note. She did not have a pound note, but in reply to a further request by Hunter she gave him 10s in silver and half a sovereign. Hunter took away the silver, and placing another half-sovereign alongside I:hc one on the counter, said to witness: “Now give me £2; you have another pound belonging to me.” She (witness) refused, remarking that she had given the right change, and Hunter became most abusive, using most obscene language. She picked up the two halfsovereigns, and threw them down on the counter, again remarking to Hunter: “Don’t try to ring- the changes on to me.” Harrison then returned to the bar almost immediately, and paid for the last lot of drinks the men had had. The man who was with Harison and Hunter took no part in the matter at all. To Mr Burnard: Harrison gave no reason for leaving the bar. She often had to give change to customers, but was seldom asked in the manner stated previously. She knew accused Hunter bv sight, as lie had been going to the hotel for a fortnight or so. On tho day in question he was not under the influence of liquor, nor did he leave tlie bar. To accused Harrison: All that he (Harrison) had done was to call for the drinks and pay for them. He did not attempt to get any money from her, nor did he use any bad language. Herbert Rose, a fitter, said that ho heard Hunter arguing with tlie barmaid over money. The latter was very busy, and lie (witness) could not sav if Harrison was concerned in the discussion. To Mr Burnard : Hunter was endeavouring to tell the barmaid that she had a pound belonging to him, and he (witness) heard the barmaid tell Hunter “'not to ring the changes on to me.”

To accused Harrison : He (witness) did not recognise him in regard to the trouble.

Detective Connelly deposed to having overheard the dispute with the barmaid ,and Harrison, on being accosted, became abusive; witness eventually putting him cut of the hotel. After Harrison had been ejected', Hunter went out, and after lie" (witness) had interviewed the barmaid he went out and saw Harrison again. He informed Harrison that the barmaid had complained of Hunter trying to ring the changes on to her, and that he (Harrison) had been bustling her. was at this time crossing over the Ivaiti bridge, and Harrison denied any knowledge about what he (witness) was talking of. To accused Harrison: He (witness) did not remember saying, ‘None of your Napier tricks here,” or threatening to “fix” him the following day. At this stage his Worship _ said there appeared to be no evidence against accused Harrison, who would be discharged. Mr Burnard pleaded', on behalf _ of Hunter, that lie was a Lard-working man, who had been in the district for some years, and who naturally resented an imputation of “ringing the changes” His” Worship said that lie had no doubt accused Hunter did endeavour to defraud the barmaid of £1 and he would be convicted. Sentence would be imposed after the hearing of the second charge. Tlie secaond count against the accused was then proceeded with. Kate Barry, barmaid at the Masonic Hotel, gave evidence to the effect that, on March 15 she saw Harrison in the bar, accompanied by a man. wbo looked like Hunter, but of whose identity she could 1 not be . sure. After having a couple ; of drinks, the men called for some more, and she -supplied them. There was half-a-sovereign on the counter in front of Harrison, and she took it, returning 9s change. Harirson then said he did not. mean to give her the half-sovereign, as he had plenty of silver. In response to a request from Harrison, who said he would give her silver for it, witness put the half-sov-ereign back on the counter. Harrison then put 10s in silver alongside the halfsovereign, and asked 1 her for £1 for tlie amount. She said, “What. about ray 10s change?” and accused said it- would be all right. She then told Harrison to go and try his games on somewhere else ,as they would not “work” with her. She: then warned the men out of the bar, she picking up the half-sov-ereign and Harrison the 10s in silver. To accused Harrison: The date in question was either the 15th or 16th. She did not know what sort of clothes he Avas Aveafing at the time, and she had informed the police about the matter, on the previous day, when she was asked. To his Worship: She would haA r e informed the police at the time of the occurrence had there been any of them about. She Avas quite sure of the identity of the accused Harrison. Detective Connelly gave evidence of having, in company avfill Constables Dandy and Pratt, .arrested tlie two accused. Harrison became most abusive and denied all 1 knowledge of the affair. At this stage his Worship discharged Hunter, against Avhome he said there was no evidence. Giving evidence on his oAvn behalf, accused Harrison' said that he arrived

in Gisborne from Whatatutu. He Avas not out at night on either March doth or 16th, and the only money he then had was.. 12s 6d, ••borrowed from his landlady and, out of which he had paid 7s 6d to have a suit cleaned. He had no other money'until lie got his Avages, £2 Bs, on the following Saturday from the Freezing Company. To Detective’Connelly : He had been in NeAv Zealand about 18 months, and Avas a> disqualified jockey. He had served sentences at Greymouth, Westport and Napier, most of the convictions being for offences similar to the one lie Avas at present charged with. In reply to his Worship, accused said that he Avas trying to l’eform, and, if given a chance, would leave the country.

His Worship said lie Avas quite satisfied as to the guilt of accused, avlio appeared to have a very bad record. Accused Avoukl be sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment in tlie Najiier gaol. Upon the first charge, accused Hunter Avas sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, and upon a charge of using obscene language he Avas convicted and fined £3 aid costs 11s; in default, 14 days ’imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent.