SHOWMAN FINED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1937, Page 8

SHOWMAN FINED.

"RUNG THE CHANGES."

INCIDENT IN CITY SHOP.

"HE CALLED ME SENORITA."

A small financial transaction was investigated in the Police Court this morning, and the result proved costly to Kobert Ernest Larkin, a showman, • aged 42. Larkin will have to iind £•"> to pay into the Consolidated Fund as a fine, or spend 21 days in the prison. Larkin, for whom Mr. K. C. Aekins. appeared, was charged with attempting to steal 10/ from Winifred Waite on June 10. He denied the charge. Mrs. Waite, a Queen Street confectioner, said Larkin entered her shop •shortly after S..TO on Thursday night I last and ordered a milk shake. He tendered witness a 10/ Mote and she handed him 9/8 as change. "He then pulled out some silver and asked me for his 10/ note back," said Mrs. Waite. "He also asked me to give him £1 for it. I could see he was trying to ring the changes on me. He kept on calling me 'senorita' and talking about Mexico! I then told him to go." Mr. Ackins: When he put the silver down he asked you for his 10/ note back? \es, but I had given him 9/S change. Are you sure there was no misunderstanding?— There was no misunderstanding. He wanted me to give him a pound. I <rave him the silver and he left the shop. When Larkin was brought back to your shop and accused of trying to ring the changes he denied it?— Yes. he did"! Detective-Sergeant McHugh: He kept lyou in conversation. What was he talking to you about?—He was jabbering away about Mexico. I really eoul.l not tell what he was saying. He "showed signs of having had liquor. "Shooting at the Moon." Detective Cromwell said he saw Larkin in the shop at 8.45 p.m. and told him of the allegation that had been made about him. Asked if he had any explanation to make, Larkin said: "You haven't got a leg to stand on. I'll <r 0 before a jury." Later, at the polfce station, Larkin was again asked if he desired to make an explanation. He said: "Lock me up! My solicitor will appear for me in the morning. Yon are only shooting at the moon."

Constable Fell said that while on duty in Queen Street last Thursday night, as the result of something he was told by Mr. Waite, lie accosted accused and asked him if he had had a milk shake in Mrs. Waite's shop. Larkin said he had and agreed to accompany witness back to the shop. Once in the shop Larkin denied that he had tried to "ring the changes'' and said he would "have the shop up for slander."

"I cannot carry the matter any further," said counsel. "All Larkin did was to ask for his 10/ back." Mr. W. R. McKean, SJI.: Oh, no, he was after something more. I am quite sure he was trying to ring the changes. He it convicted. Is anything known about him ? "Spieler and Hotel Barber." Detective-Sergeant McHugh, who prosecuted: Quite a lot, sir. -I will put in his list of previous convictions. Larkin is known to the police as a showman, epieler and "hotel-barber." He

lives by taking people down. This is one of his methods —ringing the changes. Mr. Aekins: That is not so. He has been working. He buys goods from warehouses and sells thein. He has not been in any serious trouble for nearly three years. He has not been "spielering" or "barbering" in that period. Detective-Sergeant McHugh: You mean he hasn't been caught. Mr. Aekins said Larkin's landlailv considered that he was a good worker. He

had boarded with her for four years and had always paid his way. However. Lark-in wfis addicted to liquor at times. "I think if you prohibited him and gave him a chance he would be all right," added Mr. Aekins.

'1 don't think so," said the magistrate. as he looked at the items on accused's conviction list. "A prohibition order would not have any effect on him, I'm afraid. I see he was given a chance in 1934 011 two charges of attempted theft and was ordered to come up for sentence within two years. I don't know what sort of offences they were, or whether they were the same as he is now charged with . "Just the same, sir," said DetectiveSergeant McHugh. "Ringing the changes."

"He certainly has not been convicted during the last three years, btit he has a conviction now." said the magistrate. "He will be fined £5, or 21 days' imprisonment." "Will you give him a week to pay the fine?" asked "Mr. Aekins. _ Mr. McKean: No. He will have no time in which to pay.