MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3571, 10 July 1912, Page 2

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

A CHARGE OF THEFT DISMISSED.

A charge of stealing £2 from AA T . H. Field was preferred against Robert Thompson, before Messrs R. Johnson aiul J- AVarren, J.’sP., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Air Coleman defended ancli Air Burnard watched Air Field’s interests.

Informant stated that lie paid the accused his wages on Saturday last. He met accused on Monday and asked him to pay his food account, which amounted to £2 10s. Accused asked if lie could change £5, and witness, taking out two £1 notes, put his foot on the doorstep of the Coronation Hotel, and laid the two notes on his knee. Before he could- get the 10s out of his pocket accused grabbed the notes and ran round the corner towards the Gisborne Hotel, and then round that corner.

Constable Clist deposed that complainant brought accused to him, am. he brought them both to the police station. Tlie complainant was sober, but the accused had had some drink. Air Coleman said he was about to prove that the case was one of mistaken identity, and that accused was at his boarding house from 4 o’clock until 7 p.m., when he went to the Turanganui noth a friend, and as the light was bad it was probable complainant liad mistaken the thief for accused.

AVilliam AA'ebb stated that he hoaroed with accused, who was home at--4.30 p.m. until after tea.

George Alfred Pepper said he lived with accused, and was with him all the evening from 6.35 p.m. They went to the .Turangamii hotel, where complainant came in to the bar, and accused went out into the passage of the hotel with him. He heard complainant threaten to shoot accused, and' saw complainant bump accused’s head against the wall- To Mr Barnard : Witness told accused to let complainant sue for the £2 he was accused of stealing. Accused said he told complainant lie was 'going to leave him the money when he got his wages. He did not see accused until he mot him at the Turangamii Hotel. He had never had a row with complainant. He had cashed £2 and had £7 10s on him out of £9, his wages, when arrested. To Mr Burnard: He had not paid the stor© account hrfa”fe the bill had not been rendered to him, and lie did pot think it amounted to £2 10s, more likely about half of it. William H. Griffon said he saw accused in the sitting-room of the ban riling house at about ten minutes to live, 'and lie did not look as if lie had been running. The Bench dismissed the case and allowed no costs.