THEFT AT HOTEL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 64, 27 December 1935, Page 5

THEFT AT HOTEL

MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. TWO MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR ALSO. CIGARETTES PROVIDE A CLUE. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. A small clue in the shape of a tin of cigarettes lead to the arrest of George Walter Roche. The story was told in the Magistrate’s Court this morning when Roche faced three charges of theft from a room at Warner’s Hotel on December 25. The fact that two cigarettes were found in a tin of another brand in his room gave the police valuable information and enabled them to make the arrest in smart time. Roche, a motor-car salesman, aged 32, was charged with the theft of 16 Cook’s travelling cheques valued at £l4O, £6 5s 3d in money, and goods to the value of £45 6s, the property of Mrs Elsie Graham, of Southport, England, who was a guest at the hotel. Pleading guilty Roche was convicted and committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On a charge of stealing a fountain pen valued at 80s, the property of Lady Ray Martha Samuel, of London, another guest at the hotel, accused was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour and on a charge of stealing 13s in money and 25 cigarettes yalued at Is 6d, the property of Peggy Perrett, waitress at the hotel, he was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour, the sentences to be concurrent. Accused pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective Sinclair said he was called to Warner’s Hotel at U p.m. on December 25 to inquire into the theft. In company with the licensee he visited Roche’s room. On the table he found a tin containing 18 cigarettes of one brand and two of another. Later he interviewed Roche, who stated he'had bought the cigarettes. Witness told Roche that Mrs Graham had identified , the cigarettes as her own, but Roche averred that they were his. During the interview ißoche said lie had a, car outside the hotel fitted with demonstration plates. Detective Sinclair and the licensee searched the car. In a recess m the dashboard they found lour £1 notes and some small change. Under the driver’s seat was a, handbag containing Cook’s travel cheques to the value of £l4O and travelling tickets, all made out in the name of Elsie Graham. Roche stated that the articles were his. Next morning Roche asked if he could make a statement and clear the matter up, saying he had been a “bit foolish.” Chief-Detective Dunlop said that Roche was a married man, living apart from his wife. His had come to Christchurch from Hamilton a fortnight ago, and had obtained a position as a car salesman. He lived in a flat. When he went to the hotel he took some property with hi)ii,- but it was a reasonable inference 'Tie went there with the intention of committing theft. Roche was at present on probation on a twoyear term dating from February 25, 1935. He had last reported at Hamilton in October.