TELL-TALE FLASK OF RUM

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 234, 29 June 1922, Page 4

TELL-TALE FLASK OF RUM

SOLVES MYSTERY OF AN HOTEL ROBBERY POCKETS FULL OF BOTTLES The raid which was made upon the Brunswick Hotel on June 17, when liquor valued at £8 12s. Bd. was stolen from the bar, was cleared up at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, whefi two young men named Albert Gooday and Alfred George Christie Uploaded guilty to breaking and entering the hotel, and stealing the liquor. The exhibit in court showed either that the accused had worked in the dark or that they were connoisseurs who believed in variety, as the eight bottles on view ranged from raw rum to the finest of champagne. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., was. the pre J siding Magistrate,. and Chief-Detec-tive Kemp conducted the prosecution. Alfred John Hoare, barman at the Brunswick Hotel, said that at about 6.45 n.m. on Juno 18 he was the first in the hotel to get up. He went downstairs, and found that the door leading into Vivian Street was open and that a wir dow looking on to the backyard had been with. On examining the bar he found that a quantity of liquor was missing. The liquor produced was similar to that which had been on' the shelves of ' the bar at the Brunswick. The value of the liquor was £8 12s. Bd. Constable ’McDonnell said he arrested the accused Gooday on Juno 19 for drunkenness. On'his person he found a flask of rum bearing the label of the Brunswick Hotel. Sergeant Stark said he was present at Mount’ Cook police station when Constable McDonnell brought the accused Gooday in in a drunken condition. Witness proceeded to the room occupied by the hocused, at 8. Te Puni Street. He arrested Christie, and took possession of the liquor mentioned in the information. Detective Walsh said he interviewed the accused, who admitted the offence. Christie made a statement, which he signed, in which he said that he and Gooday bad effected entrance to the hotel bv'pushing the catch of the ivindow Jack with a pocket-knife. Thev entered the bar, and filled their pockets with bottles of liquor. On their return home they gave one of the ladies in the house a large bottle of chnmuagne. Acting-Detective Tongue said that he had interviewed the accused Gooday, who had admitted the robbery. Accused pleaded guilty, and were committed for sentence to the Supreme Court.