UNUSUAL CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 150, 22 December 1914, Page 8

UNUSUAL CHARGE

concerning stolen property case before the magistrate's Court. A rare charge was preferred- against Allan Smith in the Magistrate* Court this morning before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M. It was that he corruptly took a reward of £1? from Edward Hurcomb in consideration that he would help to recover a gold watch and chain which had been obtained by means of theft, he not having used all due diligence to have the offender brought to trial. This was laid under section 287 of the Crimes Act, and was alternative to a charge of having received the watch and chain, well knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. Chief Detective Broberg prosecuted, and accused was represented by Mr. J. I?. W. Dickson. Edward Hurcomb stated that he was a storemon, and resided at Blenheim. On sth August last he was in Wellington, and at about 11 p.m. he was in Willis-street. He was wearing a gold chain) attached to which were two gold watches. The same night these articles were stolen. On the morning of Thursday, 17th December, in consequence of something he had heard, he went to an express stand in Courtenay-placc nd saw accused. t He Called him aside, and accused said, " Hullo, are you Ted from Blenheim?" Witness said, "Yes; come and have a drink," and with that they went into the Terminus Hotel. Witness asked accused about his watch and chain, and accused replied : " Come foi' a walk with me." The two went out together, and accused asserted that he could recover the watch. He explained how he had rendered similar services to other people who had lost jewellery. However, witness would have to pay £17 10s before he received the watch. They went into Reid's shop in Taranakistreet, and there Mr. Reid stated that Smith had recovered for him a silver watch and chain. The understanding was arrived at that witness should go back to the express stand and there receive the watch. Instead^ he went to the police station and interviewed Detective Bailey. At noon witness went alone to Reid's shop in the hope of Beeing Smith, but the latter was not there. Later he went to accused's place in Alfredstreet. They went out, together again, and this time witness, demanded that he should see his articles before hahding over any money, but as accused refused they parted again. Another meeting was arranged to take place at the Terminus Hotel, and on that occasion witness produced £17 in notes. Half an hour later Smith handed over the watch and chain, and just at this time Doi-cctsve Bailey appeared on the scene. Witncsa informed the detective that tbc watch and chain were hiß. On ike way to the Manners-street station, the accused said.' "You have got evens, Ted, haven't you." Accused gave no information which would assist in detecting the offender, except that the thiaf v?<ia a Government man who did not want to be exnoscd. To Mr. l Dickeont Witness did not know who had stolen his watch. Ho had not had too much dTink. Th« watch and chain were stolen from him hi a. right-of.way, two men limbing at him and covering lm head. H* could not have lost the watch. Ho had a faint idea that Smith wm one of his as^aiLartts, although he could tt*>t swear to that. In their conversations both witness and accused recognised the fwt that tho watch had been stolon. Detective Bailay stated that, in answer to tho charge of having received stolen property, accused said : "As you D'« couldn't find the watch and chain and as I know all ihn bludgers and thieve, in town I thought I would do Hureomh a good turn." Accused at no time gravo information likely to lead to the detection of the thieves who took the watch. Accused reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to tho Supreme Court for trial. Bail wa-s fixed at £50.

A Christmas, concert will be given in the- Sydney-etreet Schoolroom by St. Paul's Choir this evening. Applications are invited hy the New Plymouth Borough Council for th« position of a resident tramway engineer. The Drapers and Clothiers' Association publishes a notification in our advortisjnp columns regarding the hours of clositi' during Christmas week. Messrs. A. L. Wilson nnd Co. advertise particulars of a eaJe of household furniture, etc. , also six new bicycles and traveller's o.p. sampl<*e> Those in search of comfortable quarters for the holiday season can obtain firsts cla«? accommodation nt the Private Hotel, Porirua. Mr. Davis, the proprietor, ad' . yortises that he hoc refurnished the house,