CHARGE OF THEFT

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 131, 30 November 1922, Page 10

CHARGE OF THEFT

ALLEGED PURSE SNATCHING

Theft from the person of 15s in money and! a purse valued at 5s was alleged) against William James Parks, who appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court yesterday. Chief Detective Kemp prosecuted and accused was represented by Mr. J. F. B. Steven-

Victoria Bennett said she was standing in. front of the Britannia Hotel about 1.30 p.m. on 7th November, talking to a friend. Accused was standing unpleasantly near her and bumped her, and she moved away. A young man then spoke to her, and as a result of what s'lie was told she looked at a bag she was carrying and found a purse had disappeared from the top of it. She had £8 in a roll of notes in the bag, and there was ISs in silver and some papers in tha purse. She could not identify accused definitely as the man who bumped into her.

Virginia Monaghan, who was talking to the previous witness, identified accused as the man who was standing near Mrs. Bennett. He remained for some time and left a few minutes bffore it was discovered that the purse haifi disappeared. * Patrick H. Knowsley, dental mechanic, said he was in a tramcar when ihis attention was attracted by a man Jratting his hand into a, lady's bag. He informed the constable at the next stop, and returned with the constable. Accusfid was not to be seen, but he later identified tho accused at the Police Station 'when there were about ten men present. lie had no difficulty whatever in identifying accused by his face and clothes. Detective Healey said he received _ a complaint, and particularly watchci Willis street. He finally arrested accused on . the description given by th» two previous witnesses. Accused made a statement in which he said he was a limbless soldier out of employment. He frequently visited the Britannia Hotel, but denied having ■ ever taken a purse. Ho was on a pension. ' Mr. Stevenson submitted that the case was one of mistaken identity. Tbe man lost his leg at the hip at PasscEe ndaele, and his movement jn walking wa.s such that he would be noticed overj where, and Miss Monaghan would have :aoticed it particularly, yet she did noii reiognise him 1 for this reason. The fact that she did not notice anything peculiar about the man when he moved on was evidence that the man was not this man. He submitted that accused should not have been put amongst a number of men for identification when they were not carrying sticks.

The Magistrate decided to send accused for trial' at the Supreme Court. Accused pleaded not guilty, t and was committed. Bail was allowed in iccused'a own bond of £50.