DREW THEIR MATE'S MONEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 279, 22 November 1913, Page 11

DREW THEIR MATE'S MONEY.

FOOLISH. BUT NOT CRIMINAL. At the Supreme Court yesterday after- ! I noon, -before his Honor Mt. Justice Edwards, Jose Emmanuel Cases ac& James Edwin Msuibon, two young seafaring men. -were charged -with conspiracy, and Casas was also charged with forgery | and false pretences. The Hon. .1. A. j I Tole, X.C-, appeared for the Crown, and ! Mr. Coates (Messrs. .Tohaston and Coat«s) deieiided the prieoners. For the prosecution it wae alleged that ■tile two accused and a. shipmate named Edward Rotierte had 'been working on "the Union Co. TaJune. They ' were in a hotel, and Roberts said he j was goin™ for his money. They then | ! parted, ilaabcra and Casas then went j down to the Oompany-'s ticket office, j Maubon got his docket for the five shil- ! iings dne to him. Ca«sas repreeented ! ! himself as being Soberts, and drew that ■ I man's ticket for five shillings. They • then went to the pay office, aDd Casas ; drew the money, -the name Roberts being I signed on the receipt, the j real Roberts went to the .ticket office, ' and found that bis order had been lifted. 1 Not long afterwards the three met in j -another hotel, and Maubon handed over I five shillings to Roberts, while the latter I was telling them that his order had j 'been lifted." I In answer to Mr. Coates, RoSherbs said : Maubon had had abont eeven drinks I when they began to talk a;bout getting their money. He did not think that was 1 sufficient to make a man drank. He did '■ not think his mates would steal his \ money. J At this stage the Judge said it was i pretty evident to him that there wa* no fraudulent intention on the part of the two men. The jury, without retiring found the acrnsed not guilty. Hi? Honor told the accused that they I had done a very foolish thing in getting ; Roberts' money. He was not quite sure I that he should not have told the jury ■ that Ca=a.s was jruflty for signing Rob- ■ crts' name. TTowever, he did not thinlc there was any evil intention. The prieoners MioTild : bear in mmd that they most not do that sort of thing again. \ Both men -were then discharged.