TRUST BETRAYED

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 10

TRUST BETRAYED

PROMISE TO DELIVER A PARCEL BROKEN z Dominion Special. Auckland, December 6. The long arm of the law stretched out far when William John Fox, aged 42, with several aliases, was arrested at Dannevirke, on November 21, on a charge of stealing four bottles of whisky and £5O in notes, the property of Paterson and Robertson, merchants, on May 6, 1920. The story of the offerice was told in the- Magistrate’s Court to-day by William Stephenson Devitt, an employee of Paterson and Robertson. He stated that on May 5, 1920, in the course of his duties, he went to the s.s. Waipu,. lying at the Northern Company’s wharf, and made inquiries for the master of the vessel. He saw accused, who was a steward on the vessel, and who at that time was known as Fraser. Witness was informed by accused that the captain would not be on board until later that evening. Accused asked witness whether there was anything he could do. Witness told him be had a parcel containing money and four bottles of whisky, which was to be taken to Great Barrier, to be delivered to a man named Muir, who had arranged to call for it on the Waipu’s arrival there. Accused said he would take the parcel, and agreed to deliver it. The parcel was handed to him, witness obtaining a receipt for it. The following day it came to witness’s knowledge ' that the parcel was not delivered. Inquiries were made for accused, and, in consequence of not being able to trace the parcel, the matter was reported to Detective Robertson Onlv one bottle of whisky had been recovered. Detective Robertson said that on his arrest at Dannevirke, on November 21, Fox made a statement, which he signed, admitting the offence. Witness made search of accused’s cabin on May 7, 1920. and found one bottle of wliiskv under his bunk. Accused left the Waipu that morning without being i paid off. ’ Fox, who pleaded guilty to theft, • was committed for sentence at" the Supreme Court. DARING ESCAPE PRISONER ELUDES ” WARDERS Dominion Special. Auckland, December 6. A daring escape from the Mount Eden prison was made by Samuel Arthur Pudney (aged 35), an habitual criminal, who was serving a sentence of two years for ..false, pretences imposed by the Supreme Court at Auckland in January last. About 730 last evening Pudney niade an excuse to go to the prison' quarry. He waited for a favourable opportunity, and while unobserved by warders for a moment, he made a nuick dash through an open gate, which he slammed in the face of pursuing warders. Having thus gained a slight advantage. Pudney stepped fast along Boston Road to Khyber Pass, and was lost in the darkness. Immediately search parties, comprising . constables, detectives, and warders, set out after the escapee, special care being taken to watch the domain, where it was thought he might take shelter. The search party was augmented to-day, but so far without success.