A GOOD HAUL

Evening Star, Issue 19522, 1 April 1927, Page 7

A GOOD HAUL

——-♦ CHINAMAN'S NOCTURNAL RAID ADMITS THEFT DF it3o • A Chinaman named Wong.Ah Chong was charged at the City Police Court this morning with breaking and entering by night the premises of Kan Wins, Kai and stealing therefrom £l3O i money, the property of Kan Wing Ka;, He was further charged with being in possession oi opium in a form suitable for smoking, and with smoking opiutti. The accused pleaded guilty to the opium charges and he was convicted and remanded for sentence. Mr J. MTntosh, inspector of Custom* for Dunedin, prosecuted. The breaking and entering charge was then taken.

Howard Stanley Perry, a teller in the National Bank, North Dunedin, stated that ho saw the accused in the bank on February 26 last, at about 11 o’clock. He wanted a parcel of silvbr changed into notes. Witness was too busy at the time, and he asked him to wait. Accused appeared to be reluctant to wait, and the money was handed over to another bank official. The accused made a hurried exit from the bank, leaving the money on the counter. Albert Suter, another hank official, said he had counted the money the accused had brought into the bank. There was a total of £39 Is, there being £37 9s 6d in silver. Kan Wing Kai, a fruiterer in business in George street, who gave his evidence through an interpreter, said that before going to bed he put his money in a case under the bod, leaving £6 in the till. There was about £124 in the suit case. His bedroom door was closed, but not locked when he retired to bed. The accused had worked for witness for about two months, leaving him three weeks before the money was stolen. When witness got out of bed he noticed the suit case was missing. Hi went downstairs and found the back door open and some pennies and halfpennies scattered about the cellar. A candle had been used by the person stealing the money, and this was also found in the cellar. Accused stopped si Ah Sing’s place in Caversham, but had not done any work for two months.

Ah Sing, a fruiterer living in Cavepsham, said accused had stayed with him for about two months. Accused was in the house at 1 o’clock on the morning the money was stolen, but he was away when witness woke up at 3 o’clock. Accused returned at 5 o’clock wearing an overcoat, and went straight back to his bedroom. Witness later gave accused a letter to take to Kan Wing Kai, accused stating he would return at noon, but he did not do so. Witness never gave accused any money. Detective Walker, stationed at Timaru, stated he had located the accused travelling on the Dunedin-Christ-ohurch express. Accused gave his name as Low On, and produced £sl in notes. Accused told him he.had been working for a Chinaman named Ah Wong at Caversham, and that the money represented the wages received from him. Accused, who was accompanied by a Chinese boy about fourteen years of age, appeared to he anxious to go to Christchurch. He had no luggage, stating that he had packed it before leaving and that it would bo forwarded to him. Accused was allowed to proceed on his journey, being later arrested at Nelson, when ho had only £2 11s in his possession.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Accused was not represented by counsel and did not ask for bail.