A PUNTER'S LUCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 26, 31 January 1921, Page 5

A PUNTER'S LUCK.

GOOD DAY AT THE RACES. THEN THE EASY MONEY GOES. A country visitor's luck at on Saturday had a sequel at the Police* j Court to-day, when an elderly -woman, Sarah Jane Brown (53). of Nelson Street, was charged before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., that she had stolen £33 in cash belonging to Samuel Gibson, of Matamata. Gibson's story was that he was a steward, and came to town from Matamata on Thursday last. On Saturday Be went to the races with £20 on hhn, and as the result of striking two winners. Clonmel and Gold Kip, that each paid over £10, he had a good day and came back to town with about £36 in his pockets. In the evening he went to the apartment house of Mrs. Brown, whom he had known for some years. This house was 115, Nelson Street, and he mw several people there. He had had some I drink, but was quite sober. After some I singing by the company, one of whom I played the piano, a bottle of whisky was ! produced, and he paid £1 for it, taking I the money from a roll of notes he had in ' his wallet. There -were about hslf-a- ---! dozen people there. He dozed off later jon a chair, and eventually was frivfcn a "shake-down" on a sofa. When he woke Jin the morning about 6 o'clock his wallet j was gone. After a search he called Mrs. : Brown, and she also looked round, and | then showed him the wallet on the sofa in a place where he had previously searched without 6eeing it. There was only a single £1 note left, when there should have been somewhere about He made a fuss, and said he had to have money to get home. Mrs. Brown then gave him a £10 note in exchange for his cheque for that amount. He still said he would go for the police, and eventually he did that, though she said if he did ncrs go she would get the money on Monday. Acting Detective O'Brien stated that he and Detective Meiklejohn went to the house on Sunday morning, but their search and cross-examination among Mrs Brown and the four boarders produced nothing. ' Witness took Mrs. Brown to the police station, and there got a statement from her. She remarked that if no police action was taken she would see that Gibson got his money on Monday. ,as it had been lost in her house. Later she said she was sure the money must be in the house, and thought she could find it. They went back to the house. ' j and after looking about for half-an-hoor | she went to the piano, took out the ] front board and took a roll of 23 £ 1 ' j notes from behind the strings of the ' . piano. I I Accused, who n, represented by Mr. I I R. A. Singer, and pleaded "not guilty. 1 was committed to the Supreme Court for ' i triaL bail being allowed in one surety of ! ' £50. I