CHINESE AND HIS MONEY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1915, Page 8

CHINESE AND HIS MONEY

ALLEGED ROBBERY AT PETONE. A robbery at Petone at the end of last month was investigated in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. A young woman named May Wills, 22 years of age, was charged with the theft of £25 in notes from the dwelling-house of Charlie Yuan. Chief-Detective Boddam conducted the prosecution, and Mr. H. F. O'Leary represented accused. Charlie Yum stated that he was a fruiterer at Petone. He knew the accused, who came to his house at 11.15 o'clock on the night of 30th January last. She said she had xno money fop the train, and wished to stay for the night. She was allowed to stay. Witness got up about half-past 8 on the Sunday morning which followed, and accused was then awake. At 9 o'clock he went to the till and took out tho sum of about £25 in bank notes and a few sovereigns, and about £7 or £8 worth of silver. This he took to his bedroom, and placed it all, with the exception of the silver, in a bag (produced). He next put it in a kind of safe. After putting the money away he locked the box and went out of the room. Accused saw him do all this, and a few minutes later she asked for a basin of water in which to, wash. At accused's request he left the room, and the door was closed. After another lapse of a few minutes accused came out of the room with her hat on. By her subsequent actions witness's suspicions were aroused, and as the result of an examination he found that the lock of the safe had been broken, and the notes were missing. Accused had also gone, and witness gave chase on a bicycle, sighting her after a few minutes, when she commenced to run. He then reported the matter to the police. Accused had visited him on previous occasions. To Mr. O'Leary : Witness had two assistants who slept in the house during the night. They both left in the morning, but he did not see them depart. He did not bank his money, but Kept it in the house. The money he took into his room was the takings for the week, with the exception of a small amount. He took the money into the box in his bedroom every Sunday. He was not certain as to how much money he placed in the box on the Sunday in question. He was not in the habit of walking in his sleep. Constable Tricklebank (acting-detec-tive) stated that on 3rd February last he interviewed accused in Featherstonstreet, informing her that she was suspected of stealing £25 in notes from Charlie Yum. Witness questioned her at the Lambton-quay police station, when she denied all knowledge of being at Petone. Likewise she denied ever receiving £25. In her handbag he found receipts for goods totalling £12 2s. In addition, he found £1 12s 9d in cash. All the receipts bore the date of Ist February— the day after the theft had been committed. In reply to a question as to how she came to have so much money, she said : " Find out." After a time she admitted being at Petone and staying at Yum's shop on the night of the 30th. When charged with the actual offence, she made no reply. The safe in Yum's bedroom was made of wood, and the lock had been tampered with by a pair of scissors. Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved her defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed in the sum of £25.