POCKET-PICKING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14204, 18 November 1911, Page 2

POCKET-PICKING.

RACECOURSE INCIDENTS. Richard Henry Thompson (Mr- Donnelly) was charged that, on November 7th, he attempted to steal from the person of one Herbert* Vincent Hood. Herbert Vincent Hood gave evidence that he was at the trots at Addington on November: 7th, 1911. He went to the totajisator, but in the crush he dfd not feel anyono touch his iiippockct. - Constable O'Brien declared that he was on duty at Addington. Ho saw accused lift the tail ot the last witness's coat and put his hand in his pocket, 'in the race leading to the totalisator window. Accused, after putting '■ his hand in last witness's pocket, came back out of the race, and was coing in after another race when witness stopped him. Witness then asked accu&ea to come with him. Accused said that he did not know who witness was, and added that he wished to take a ticket on the race. Witness allowed him to do this, as he knew that Detective' Gibson was near, and there was no chance of accused's gettins away. Detective Gibson came up and arrested accused.

Constable Marish gavo evidence that on the Bth inst. he escorted accused to Lyttelton. Accused said that~he could not understand the charge of having '"got at" the plain-clothes constables, though there might be something in the other matter. Detective Gibson detailed the arrest of accused. He had said then that ho was a journalist from England, and a respectable man. Tliis closed the case for the police. Mr Donnelly addressed the Bench, etating that the case depended .solely upon the evidence of the- young constable. He alleged that tho constable might easily have bfon jnistaksn. As for the man's alleged admission that ho had been caught in tho act, it might mean no more than that he had been arro-sted at tho time of tho act alleged. He urged that ■what tho constable saw might hav-i been the effect of nothing more tlip,n the prelum of the crowd. He would not call accused. ' I

Mr Donnelly objected to thp production of a list of alloyed convictions in Sydney

Detective Gibson was proceeding to give evidence in support of thr> records, when Sir Donnelly asked t-hnt the further .charge .should he heard first.

Richard Henry Thompson (Mr Donnelly) was then charced further that cm November 7th. at Addinccton, he stoic? frpmthe person of one Edward Francis O'Brien the snm of £•". the property of tho said Edward Francis O'Rrien. Constable O'Brien deposed that on the- 7th inst. he was at the trots in plain clothes. He was in the race to tho totalisator, and felt a hand in his hip pocket. Accused was behind him. Later he found ho had lost his money. Ho told the farts to Detective Gibson, and with him watched the race loading to the totalisator window, belioving that accused would return to "work" the •ground ncain. Acouv?d returned, and he saw him do what he had described in giving evidence in the previous charge.

Detective Gibson gave evidence that ho arrested accused, who had £21 11s Gd iv his possession. Mr Donnelly said that there seemed to.be no evidence tcPrrarrnnt the charge being taken further. Arter hearing Mr Donnelly on the matter of sentence to which* prisoner ■was liable, his Worship a penalty of three month;/ imprisonment on the charge of attempted theft, adding that if dissatisfied accused might appeal Tho charge of theft from the person of O'Brien was dismissed.