RINGING THE CHANGES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 140, 15 June 1937, Page 11

RINGING THE CHANGES

SHOWMAN FINED

SHOPKEEPER'S EVIDENCE

TOO WARY TO BE CAUGHT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

As the result of an investigati6n at the Police Court this morning into a financial ' transaction, a showman, Robert Ernest Larkin, aged 42, will have to pay a fine of £5 or spend 21 days in prison.

Larkin was charged with attempting to steal 10s from Winifred Waite on June 10, and pleaded not guilty.

Mrs. Waite, a Queen Street confectioner,, said that Larkin entered her shop shortly after 8.30 on Thursday evening and ordered a milk shake. He tendered a 10s note and she handed him 9s 8d change. ."He then pulled out. some silver an asked me to return the 10s.note," said Mrs. Waite.. "He also" asked me to give" him £ 1 for it. I could see he was trying to ring, the changes on me. He kept calling me Senorita, and talking about Mexico. I then told him to. go. He showed signs of having had liquor."

Defending counsel, Mr. Aekins, contended that Larkin only asked for 10s back.

The Magistrate (Mr. McKean):. Oh, ho. He was after something more. I am quite sure he was trying to ring the changes. He is convicted.' Is anything known about him? Detective-Sergeant McHugh: Quite a lot, sir. Larkin is known •to the police as a' showman, . spieler, and "hotel barber." He lives by taking people down. /This is one of his methods to ring the changes./

Mr. Aekins: That is not so. He has been working.: He buys goods from warehouses and sells them. He has not been in any serious trouble for. three years. I think if^ you prohibited him and gave him a chance he would be all right. . - - , The Magistrate, looking at a,list of convictions: I don't think so.

Mr. Aekins asked for a week to pay the fine. . ' • , '

The Magistrate: No. He will have no time in which to pay. ,' •

THE ENGLISH TEAM

BOOKINGS FOR THIRD TEST

The. third Test between the English touring Association football team and New Zealand's representatives is to be played in Wellington oh Saturday week, and arrangements have been made with the Wellington Rugby Union for ; the use of Athletic Park for the occasion. It is to be a big day for Association football, .and, although the Rugby Union is taking no part in the afternoon's programme, special provision has .been, made for. Rugby season ticket holders in the matter of booking seats for the occasion. The box plan for preferential booking for season ticket holders is to be open at the D.I.C. on Thursday and Friday of this week, and the plan will be' open to the public from Saturday. The price for reserved seats is Ss 6d.