CHARGE OF THEFT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 8

CHARGE OF THEFT.

MISSING CHAIN AND PENDANT. The hearing of the charge of theft preferred against Roderick Ryan in connection with the loss of a gold, chain, "Teenstone pendant and sovereign case J>y a retired farmer named Calvert Frodsham, at the United Service Hotel on January 25th last, occupied the attention of the Auckland Supreme Court throughout yesterday. Tiie prosecution alleged that accused got possession of the goods mentioned through Frodshain handing them round in the hotel, and later, on thTee occasions tried to sell a chain'and pendant answering the description of the stolen one, to a> pawnbroker on no less than three occasions. .Ryan, in evidence, denied being in the hotel at the date of the theft, denied certain parts of a written statement given to a detective, and denied conversation with the barman and barmaid after being committed for trial.' Mrs. Barron, boarding-house keeper, with whom Ryan and Colquhuan (a Crown ■witness) were staying, described incidents and conversations in which it was alleged Colquhuan produced a chain with pendant and sovereign, case. The chain disappeared, and later an unknown man named Price said he had received it from Coloqulruan, and had thrown the chain over the wharf. Witness produced the sovereign case, which she said she had recently found 'in her house. In the course of summing up Mr. Justice Edwards remarked that the case had become much more serious than it was when it started. Unless it WRS found that the several witnesses for the prosecution -were mistaken, the jury would he. forced to the conclusion that the wTiole of the defence was manufactured. The jury failed to agree, and on the application of the Crown Prosecutor a new trial was ordered to take place next sessions. Bail was allowed in one surety of £100 of two of £50 each.