NOTES THAT VANISHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 41, 17 February 1920, Page 5

NOTES THAT VANISHED.

GISBOKXE FARMER'S LOSS. How a (li-borne farmer on a holiday ' to Auckland' was relieved of two £20 ' 1 note* during a convivial evening on a ■ launch at IJevonport was explained at the : 1 Police Court, before Mr. .7. K. Wilson, ' jiiH.M.. this morning, when Walter Haeiita. J until recently a major in the Now Zea- • j land Forces, was charged with the theft 'of the same from the person of Leonard 3 Craig. \ The latter in evidence stated that he came up from the Kast Coast with about [ £20 and a letter of credit for £300. He j put up at the Prince Arthur Hotel with a friend, and there made the acquaint- ' Craig purchased a launch, and wa< going ■ I to Dcvonport to it on the afternoon of " February 12. when ho met accused and asked him to come over. En route they had a drink or two, and on arriving at * the craft continued their conviviality by opening a bottle of brandy. Witness ' subsequently went to sleep, and on awakening in the morning missed the two valuable note? from his trouser pocket, j I though seven single notes and some silver I 'were still there. He reported the mat- ' I ter to the police on February 13. and ' I subsequently when he met tli" accused Jlthe latter greeted him by saying: "How sre you: I was just coming over to settle about the boat." In answer to Mr. O-borne-Lillv witness stated that Haeata hail always borne his : share of expense- during their acquaintj \ nncc, and he was .surprised that he ! should be allege-d to have taken the j money. lie added incidentally that some 3I of the accused's friends had "since given Jjiiim the balance of the money. I Alfred Lloyd, partner of Craig, ebrro- I , j bnrated the evidence as to the movements lat Devonpon. Ho ad led that he had I occasion to be absent from the boat for about half an hour about 7.45 p.m., leaving the accused in company with Oraitr. who was asleep. When he returned Craig was still asleep and in the same position. Haeata soon after left the boat. James Scotland deposed that he was staying at the Albert Hotel on February 12. ami in the evening alwut 0 o'clock I aroused came to the premises, saying that Jhe wanted to give £2 to Mr. Reed. As the latter was out the visitor said lie p| would call again, and replaced some o i money he had taken out in a wallet. At I the same time he referred a note to witli nes=. asking whether it was not for £20. a ; Witness replied in the affirmative, and c I also noticed a ten-pound note and four j. j single notes. ;. Tbe case is proceeding. 1. = ___ =======