SUNDAY SKATING PARTY

Evening Star, Issue 22618, 9 April 1937, Page 10

SUNDAY SKATING PARTY

SEQUEL IN POLICE COURT i An impromptu skating party in the Regal Ring in Cumberland street on Sunday afternoon, March 28, had its sequel in the appearance in the Police Court to-day of four persons, two men and two women, who were each charged with the theft of a quantity of confectionery and cordials, the property of Alexander Ross, the owner of a sweet stall at the rink. The two male accused were Hazell Mervyn Gaffney and Alfred Vernal Walker. The names of the two women were suppressed. The police admitted that the case presented some unusual features. Chiefdetective Young saying that a 'charge had been preferred to clear the matter up, and accordingly Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., adjourned the cases against each of the four accused for 12 months. Mr I. B. Stevenson appeared for Walker, Gaffney, and one of the female accused, who all pleaded not guilty. Mr J. C. Stark represented the other woman, who admitted the charge. The Chief Detective told the court that the complainant Ross left the building at 11.40 p.m. on the previous day, his stall being locked up and the door leading on to the rink also locked. He returned on the Monday and found that both doors had 5 been forced open. A quantity of chocolate and cordials was missing. When aMr Chalmers, a part owner of the rink, made an examination o’f the premises, he found, that a number of skates had been used. _ A person named Bartley, who was passing the rink at about 2.30 p.m. heard a noise and looked through a window, which was slammed in his face by a man. Acting-detective Brown subsequently interviewed one of the women, who said that the four entered the ring by the window. The Chief Detective said that Gaffney admitted entering the premises, and said he found the rink door open, though he denied that he opened the confectionery stall door. Walker and the two women also said they had gained admittance through the window. Evidence was given by the complainant, who said that after finding the rink door ajar he checked his stock and found that 15 3d cakes and two, 6d cakes of chocolate and four _6d bottles of cordial were missing. His _ice cream stock had been with, but he did not know if any of it was missing. Witness said, in reply to Mr Stevenson, that his stall did not show any signs of having been rummaged for money. After Peter Thomas Chalmers, one of the owners of the rink, had given evidence that, he had returned to the rjnk on Monday morning ■ and found both doors forced, ho admitted to Mr Stevenson that Mr Isaacs, the other owner of the rink, had allowed two boys and one of the female accused to skate the previous Sunday. Two brothers of one of the • accused, said witness, were employed at the rink. Ivan Frederick Bartley said that about 2.30 p.m. on March 27 he passed the rink and heard the noise of people speaking inside. He went up a lane and looked through a window, and saw at least three people—two men and on© woman—standing skates on. Another , woman was sitting on a seat. Witness subsequently opened the window, and two women and a man went into the confectionery store. Another man, who had a pair of skates on, took them off and came over to the window. The Chief Detective; What was said? Mr Stevenson: I object to that question. The; Chief Detective; The. conversation will be substantiated. Witfaess said he asked the man if the skat© attendant was about. He said, “ No, and shut the window. • One of the female accused had stated:: “We were mad; 1 don’t know why we did it,” said Acting-detective Brown, who gave evidence of statements . made to him by the four accused. This accused, said witness, had said she had gone into the dressing room, and when she came out she found both the doors open. Mr Stevenson said that the facts of the case were rather extraordinary. No doubt three of - the accused were very foolish, for they had accepted an invitation of one of the girls to visit the rink. The previous Sunday she had received permission from Mr Isaacs to skate and leave by the window. On the Sunday relating to the charge, said Mr' Stevenson, this girl had asked the other three to participate in the windfall of a free skate. She had then gone to Mr Isaacs’s house to get the keys of the rink, but he was put, so she suggested the mode of entry should he by the side window. Each of the accused strenuously denied that they had taken the quantity of sweets mentioned in the charge. At the girl’s suggestion, they had taken a cake of chocolate and mixed themselves drinks, the girl assuring them that Mr Isaacs would not mind. Counsel suggested that the condition of the rink was consistent with other persons having broken in. “ I submit that although the conduct of the three of the accused might be reprehensible as xyell as foolish, the case falls short of one in which a conviction might be entered,” said Mr Stevenson. “ The female defendant did have some authority as far as the other three are concerned.” The Magistrate: The circumstances are peculiar: this is not an ordinary case. His Worship said he was not going to convict the four for theft, and added that they were foolish acting as they did. Mr Stark said that the girl had possibly been led by persons older than herself. The Magistrate adjourned the cases against the four accused for 12 months, conditional on expenses amounting to 18s 9d_ and the value of the goods being paid, each share to be paid within three weeks.