£723 MISSING

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 9

£723 MISSING

Chinaman Loses Money YOUNG WOMAN CHARGED Committed to Stand Trial An allegation that £123 in banknotes was stolen from him by a woman while he slept, on the morning of March 25 last, was made by Low Foo, Chinese fruiterer, of 74 Constable Street, in the Police Court yesterday. The charge was preferred against Charlotte Kaiu, alias Lottie Young, domestic, aged 22. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for trial by the magistrate, Mr. E. Page, S.M. Low Foo, Chinese fruiterer, said that he carried on business at 74 Constable Street. He traded under the name of On Lee. In a room behind his shop he kept all his money in two safes—the notes in one and the silver in another. The doors of tbe safes were kept locked, and he kept the keys in his hip pocket on a ring. Accused, whom he had known for about six months, came sometimes to visit him —at times to have a talk and other times to stay overnight. She would know about the two safes, and would know where the keys were. _ t He remembered her coming to ,i“ c shop on Thursday, March 24, about 3.30 o’clock in the afternoon. She had no money and witness gave her 2/6. Accused again visited tbe shop at about 8.30 that evening, and said that she had nowhere to sleep. At 10 oclock lie found that, his keys were missing. Before witness retired at 11 o’clock he made sure that all the doors were locked. After 11. o’clock accused made him a cup of tea, and gave it to him in bed. After drinking it he felt giddy and became unconscious. Money was Missing. Some time after 3 a.m. be heard a noise of a door being opened, and lie called out, accused replying she had struck a basket. Accused came back, and when he woke up about 7 o’clock he found that she had gone; tbe doors of the two safes were open, and a canvas bag containing £723 iu banknotes was missing. The front door had four bolts and a lock, and could not have been operated from the outside. He had counted the money tbe day previously, and £2OO of it belonged to a deceased cousin, which he bad intended sending to China after the Easter holidays. Reginald Cyril Chapman, cook, married, residing at 315 the Terrace, said that he had known accused for some time. About six mouths ago he knew that accused was engaged to On ’Lee, who, he understood, was going to give her a cash settlement. At a dance on March 19 at tbe 'rain Hall. Kilbirnie, accused told witness that she stood a chance of getting money from the Chinaman, and she was going to get it soon. He asked if the Chinaman was going to give the money to her. She said, “No.” On the following Saturday at another dance at the Realm Hall, Hataltai, accused said that she had got some money, and would he mind it for her. He replied that he would not. She said that, she had stayed with the Chinaman on Thursday night, and had left about 5 o’clock in tbe morning with tbe money. Sbe picked up a taxi and then drove to Day’s Bay. She told witness that she had takeu the money out of the safe. She also said that she went up to her mother’s place and asked her mother to take charge of tbe money. He understood that her mother did take the money. Accused could not get lodging at Day’s Bay, on account, of the early hour, and returned to the city, had breakfast, and went to the Columbia Hotel to stay. She said that sbe told her mother that the money was given to her by On Lee. He met accused on the following Monday. March 28, and they went to Masterton. Accused paid the expenses and gave him 12/6 for himself. Early Morning Drive. Timothy Sullivan, taxi proprietor,, said about 5.30 a.m. on Good Fridayaccused engaged him to drive her to Petoue. They called at College Street on the way, and after waiting there for about 10 minutes, while she went inside, he drove to Day’s Bay. She could not get board there, and witness subsequently drove her to the Columbia Hotel, in the city. Elsie Bradley, employed at tbe Columbia Hotel as a housemaid-waitress, remembered accused coming to the hotel on Good Friday. Accused had her meals brought up to her room. Witness did not sec accused around the hole! much. She usually kept her bedroom door locked. Detective F. Hayhurst said that as a result of a complaint by Low Foo accused was arrested in Cuba Street on March 29. She said that she knew nothing of the alleged theft. She said that she got all hcr money from her aunt, Mrs. Esther Lee. and not from Low Foo. This concluded tbe evidence for the police, and tbe magistrate committed accused to the Supreme Court for trial.