THEFT FROM PERSON

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 8

THEFT FROM PERSON

HOTEL LAVATORY INCIDENT

Sequel to an incident in a hotel lavatory in the city on the afternoon o! March 9, Owen Byrne, aged 46 yegrs (Mr. Aekins) stood trial before Mr. Justice Callan and a jury in the Supreme Court yesterday on a charge of theft of a watch, chain and sovereign case from the person of J. B. Wallace. He was alternatively charged with the theft of the watch, chain and sovereign case. Mr. S. Cleal conducted the case for the prosecution.

Jabez B. Wallace, aged 72 years, testified that as he went into the lavatory there was another person there, who went up to witness and put his arms round witness.. Then this man snatched witness' watch and chain, to which was attached the sovereign case. Just then another man came in and on an appeal from witness this man grappled with the thief and in the course of the struggle the watch; chain and sovereign case fell to the ground, the chain then being broken. The man who snatched the chain in the first place was accused. Two porters then came and gave accused Into police custody.

After corroborative evidence had been given the accused made a statement from the dock that he had been drinking and he could not remember anything of the incident The Jury found accused guilty of theft from the person, ancf he was remanded for sentence.