METHVEN MAN ROBBED. ALLEGED POCKET PICKING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8411, 13 November 1912, Page 3

METHVEN MAN ROBBED.

ALLEGED POCKET PICKING.

A GIT DAY INCIDENT. Al a special sitting of tlio Christclnirch Magistrate's Court yesterday, field before :\lr T. A. B. Uailoy, S.M., Edward Rodders, Arthur Bergman, David Donoa;lnie, and William Primus v/oro charged'on remand with the tlmft of CIO Irbm the poison oi^Januvs MoCrenor, at Riccarton, on November 2, Mv Donnelly appeared i,"or all accused. \ James McCrenor deposed that, mi November 2, Cup Day, he was at Ricearton. At about 3.30 in the afternoon ho was entering tlw- relrcshment booth. As he was going into the booth he met the lour accused and three women. Dom^huo spoke to him, saying, "Hullo, Jim! How are you getting on?" tie answered, "You've got the advantage of me, sonny. 1 don't know you." Bergman said, "You know us all ri^ht." Bergman then put another question to him. and some iuvther talk lolloved. Witness said to the mate be had with him, "We'll go into the fear. We're not in good company." He .and his friend went in, -and'while tliay wore having a drink Infelt a pressure against him, but did not worry, as there Vas a ennui. He felt a hand in his pocket, and dropped hif drink. His pocket he saw was inside , out. Tho accused were about him, and ,hr thought they had followed him in hopes oi a drink, when he went t< rush for the police, two ol thorn blocked him. The other two had disappeared. Wiftiess had' a big sum of money in bis pocket at the time, having just drawn the dividend on' Midnight Sun, on which he had had four tickets. He boliewd he had about £70 in his lefthand trousers pocket when lie. entered the bar. A friend or witness's reported tho matter to the police for him. Evidence in support of tho.case for the prosecution was given by J. R.