THEFT FROM HOTEL

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 12

THEFT FROM HOTEL

Man Pleads Guilty To Three Charges CIGARETTES GIVE POLICE VALUABLE CLUE By Telegraph—Dress Association. Christchurch, December 27. A small clue, a tin of cigarettes, led to the arrest of George Walker Roche, according to the story told in the Magistrate's Court this morning, when Roche faced three charges of theft from rooms at Warner's Hotel on Decomber 25. CElic i'iict llii.it two ettes were found in a tin of. another brand in his room gave the police valuable information and enabled them to make an arrest in smart time. Roche, a motor-car salesman, aged 02, was charged with the theft of 10 Cook’s travel cheques, valued at £l4O, £O/5/3 iu money, and goods to the value of £45/0/-, the property of Mrs. Elsie Graham, of Southport. England, a guest at the hotel. Pleading guilty, he was convicted and committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. On a charge of stealing a fountainpen. valued at 30/-, the property of Lady Ray Martha Samuel, of London, another guest at the hotel, he was convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour, and on a charge of stealing 13/- in money and 25 cigarettes, valued at 1/6, the property of Peggy Perrett, a waitress at the hotel, he was convicted and sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, the sentences to be concurrent. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Detective's Discoveries. Detective Sinclair said he was called to Warner's Hotel at 11 p.m. on December 25 to inquire into a theft. . In company with the licensee he visited Roche’s room. On the table lie found a tin containing 18 cigarettes of one brand and two of another. Later lie interviewed Roche, who stated lie had bought the cigarettes. He told Roche Mrs. Graham had identified the cigarettes as her own, but Roche averred that they were his. During the interview Roche said that he Had a car outside the hotel fitted with demonstration plates. Detective Sinclair and the licensee searched the car. In a recess in the dashboard they found four one-pound notes and some small change. Under the drivers seat was a handbag containing Cook’s travel cheques, to a value of £l4O, and travelling tickets, all made out in the name of Elsie Graham. Roche stated that the articles were his. Next morning Roche asked if be could make a statement and clear the matter up, saying he had been "a bit. foolish.” Chief-Detective Dunlop said Roche was a married man living apart from his wife. He had come to Christchurch from Hamilton a fortnight ago and had obtained a. position as a car salesman. He lived in a flat. Mheu he went to the hotel he took some property with him. but it. was a reasonable inference that be wont there with the intention of committing theft. Roche was at present on probation on a two-year term, dating from February 25,1935. He had last reported at Hamilton in October.