ALLEGED POCKET-PICKING.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1898, Page 5

ALLEGED P O CKET-PICKING.

: 4 In the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. H. Eyre Kenny, S.M., Henry M'Laughlau, a young man, was charged with having stolen £8 from the pocket of a native named Whare Ponga last Saturday week. The evidence for the prosecution went to show that Ponga and some friends were returning from the races by the last train, and accused was in the same carriage. Ponga had won £8 in notes, which he was carrying in his right inside vest pocket wrapped up in the corner of a handkerchief. This fact was mentioned in the train. Pouga's account of the theft is as follows : — " When I got near the door accused was stopping the doorway. I said, ' Let me out,' but he didn't move. He had an overcoat on his arm. He pushed his overcoat against my breast, and put his hand under the coat into my breast pocket. I struck my pocket with my elbow and found my money was gone. That was before either of us lelt the platform of the carriage. I caught hold of the overcoat of accused as he jumped off. Then I called out to everyone, ' The money is gone/ I kept holding on to the coat, and accused did not let go. I still kept hold of the coat. He was going away, and I was following him out of the gate. 1 kept calling out, ' He has got my money.' Someone called to accused, ' Be quick.' Accused, who was stronger than I was, pulled the coat away. I saw my handkerchief in accused's hand : he took it and gave it to his friend, whom he had called up, and ran into the street." How M'Laughlin was smartly captured by the police after he had rushed away and suddenly doubled on his pursuers, has already been chronicled. Several other occupants of the railway carriage and bj'stauders gave corroborative evidence. M'Laughlin reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. Bail was allowed — himself in £50 and two sureties of £25 each.