THE GREY STREET PARTY

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 8, 11 January 1927, Page 8

THE GREY STREET PARTY

MONEY MISSED FROM WALLET

DUSKY MEN IN COURT

BOTTLES SENT FOR TRIAL.

A little mora was heard at the Police Court to-day about the New Year's eve party at 88, Grey Street, when George Bottles (22), a coloured man, again appeared on a charge of stealing £7 belonging to an Indian named Nama Khana. The hearing of the charge was commenced yesterday, but adjourned until to-day so *:hat the services of a qualified interpreter might be obtained. This was Dr. B. S. Share. After being sworn, the latter was about to put Senior Detective Hammond's questions to Khana, when Mr. Dickson, who appeared for accused, objected to the ■witness' evidence in chief being traversed again. Counsel's objection was noted on the depositions.

Khana's evidence was much the same as ho gave yesterday, except that lie denied that he was drunk. He had about five drinks. During the evening, Bottles extracted a wallet, which contained a £•*> and two £2 notes from his pocket. Accused gave the wallet back to liitn, but later he discovered that the money was missing.

Cross-examined by Mr. Dickson. Khana said that he left the hotel about 6 p.m. on December 31. It was at 2 a.m. on New Year's day, when he was about to retire, that he discovered his money was missing. He had it when he went to look for a bed the night before. He did not look to see if'his jnoney was still in the wallet after Bottles had returned it to him because he did not suspect accused.

Sada Nana Mahraj, an Indian ar a law clerk, was the next witness. He ■went to 88, Grcv Street, on New Year's Eve to see an American, and saw accused and Khana oil the staircase. Bottles appeared to be trying to keep Khana from g«i"g downstairs to witness. Witness hp.d never seen Khana before. He also did not know accused. Khana was quite sober, although lie had taken some drink.

In answer to Mr. Dickson, witness eaid that there were several other men in the house at the time.

Ledia Louther, a married woman, ■who conducts No. BS, Grey Street as a boardinghonse. said that about 8.50 on New Year's Ee, Mrs. Bottles suggested to accused that he should give witness her money. Bottles replied that he had no change, but mentioned that he had a "fiver."

Detective Knight then gave evidence "Concerning accused's arrest. In a statewhich accused made at the police

station, lie denied being in Khana's company, except when they were all in the sitting room singing. This concluded the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Dickson submitted that there was not a scrap of evidence on which a jury of the Supreme Court would convict Bottles. Therefore he asked the magistrate to dismiss the charge. Mr. Hunt: I cannot try the case. Certainly there is a case to answer.

Bottles pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.