ROBBED IN A CHINESE BOARDIN HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 217, 14 September 1888, Page 3

ROBBED IN A CHINESE BOARDIN HOUSE.

A EUROPEAN CfIARGED WITH THE ' .' ; / :■:;;' ■■:

A man; named Michael Kir by, a,.lias Lynch, was to-day charged at the Police Court with having at Auckland pn the J2th of September stolen the sum of 17s anfl a cheque for $4 10s. 6d,, r the goods and chattels' of William Cogah, he then being in the dvvelling-hpuse of pae Ah Chee, situated in Wyhdhara-siireet. .:""■ . Messrs P. B. McDpnald and J^M- Me Lachlan were on the Bench. Inspector Brphani conducted the prosecution;'' ■ "' ";'.', ~.....' ~. ,■■,; ":. ..-,' . - William Cogah deposed tbab he was a carpenter residing at the Aurora Hotel, Auckland. He arrived in Auckland from Tokatoka last) Wednesday and went to Ah Chee's Doarding-house, in Wyndham-street. When he had his tea he walked outside and mettheaccused with whomhe was previously acquainted. He said he was hard up and had jusV come out' of: the Hospital. He aaked for some tobacco, which witness gave him- Prisoner then asked for 4d Which he did. not giye him. Witness left him and. returned to the boarding-house about 10 o'clock, and wen}; tp b,e(| in.sTb. 8, room at 11 o cldck. He knew the cheque produced for £4 10s'6d and 16 or 17 shillings. It was in his possession before ■he went; to bed.: He folded' up his trousers arid vest in which was the money,1 ! and used it for a pillow. A mannamed Robert Featherstone shared the room with witness. There was no lock on the door. About 5 o'clook yesterday morning ' lie was aroused by Feathesrtone. He turned round1 to speak: to him and noticed that the waist of his own trousers Was hanging oat towards the floor. He searched for his money but both it and the cheque had gone.: Witness informed the police and stopped; payment of the cheque at the Bank of New Zealand.' ■.•.■■•■■^ ' ■.;■;: " , - Charles 'Ling deposed that he was a partner of <&h Ghees. The prisoner had been staying at his house but did not sleep there on Wednesday night. He did on Tuesday night. Witness locked the door of the house at 11 o'clock on?. Wednesday night. He found the door open at 6 o'clock yesterday morning, but could not account for it being open., tie never, sa^y prispner in the house on Wednesday! J ■ ! Thomas North deposed that he saw accused at §-30 o'clock yesterday mPrfaing in the .Foresters' Arms Hotel, Albert-street. He asked the landlady to cash the cheque, which she refused. He then asked witness, who .'als'p, refused, but lent him Is 6d, to be repaid the cHeque was cashed. Witness cautioued prisoner against cashing the cheque as he'"knew"him before and ; thought that ib must'be either'forged or stolen; • He said that he had brought the cheque down from Dargaville. - • James Webster Matthieson, ledger-keeper at the Bank of New Zealand, deposed-that he had seen the cheque, produced. .The drawers had an account with their bank. He' remembered payment being . etqpped yesterday morning. Shortly afterwards the accused called to cash the cheque. Witness asked him to endorse it. ■ He said that he could not write. He gave his name .as Lynch. ■''■•:" i ■■■: ' " Chief Detective 'Tuohydeppfed. to being called to the Bank: of New Zealand yesterday morning at 20.minutes to 11 o'clock. He saw the accused there and said to himj " What about this cheque vpu presented to cash?" Hp replied, "I got it iroi)j| ; .a,jmian who pwes me sOrrieuioney." Witnessasked him t° come Jwith him to , that riiaii.* He said he did not know where to find-lum ,or, who he was. Witness jiccofdingly took him into arrest. Upon searchingi hini he found 17a 6d in "silver and 8d in cop'pe'tI.'" '* " , This concluded the case for the proseouf t^on. i ■ ■'. •.- ■ : ~-.: _ ;■. : 1...'" *< .Prisoner reserved his defence, and was committed to take■ his" trial at" the next criminal sittings of the Supr^mg Court. ■ : )