£2,500 IN HER BAG

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1936, Page 3

£2,500 IN HER BAG

REFUSED TO PUT IN SAFE. LONDON. April A woman who stayed in a London hotel with more than £2,500 in cash in her handbag was advised by Mr. Fry, the Bow Street magistrate, yesterday, to bank her money in future. Mrs. Fabel Fawcett, of Warrior Square. St. Leonards-on-Sea, was giving evidence in the case of four waiters charged on remand concerning the loss of notes to the value of £2,260 belonging to her. It was stated that ;she refused to put the money in the hotel safe deposit. One of the accused, Daniel H. Green, 24, of Petherton Road. Highbury, who was charged with receiving, was discharged after Mr. A. E. Beecroft, prosecuting. said he did not think there was sufficient evidence against him to go to a. jury. The other three men elected to be dealt’with by the magistrate.

Bertram .John Jenkins, 26, of Petlierton Road. Highbury, pleaded guilty to receiving, and Stewart B. Nicholas, 21, of Denbigh Place, Victoria, and John George Richardson, 19, of Charminster Road. Bournemouth, .to stealing by finding.

Mr. Reecroft stated that Mrs. Fawcett was accustomed to carry very large sums with her for very long periods. When she came to London last October she had a total of £2,510 in her bag. Of this, £2,260 was in an envelope bearing her name. There were four £5OO notes, two £lOO notes and six £lO notes.

She did not appeal - to have discovered that she h’ad lost the envelope until October* 30, but apparently it ,was lost before October 28, because on that day one of the £lO notes was cashed. The three men were waiters at the hotel. Green was not. According to statements. Richardson found the notes, probably in the restaurant, and told Nicholas about it.

They found it difficult to negotiate the notes, and decided to bring in Jenkins. He knew Green and, according to one of the statements, told him he bad the money from a large legacy. Green and Jenkins went to Birmingham races together and changed one of the £5OO notes in the Tote. Jenkins took- £2OO, and they lost £5O in racing. Green had part of the rest, which he had since handed over to the police. .Air. Beecroft added that it was owing t<» an attempt to change one of the £5OO notes that the money was traced. £l,BOO had been recovered.

Jenkins gave £llO for a ring at Cardiff. .Mrs. Jenkins had told the police her husband said he had a spare £2lO lor her, and she put it in the bank. This sum had been handed back. Mrs. Fawcett, replying to the Magistrate, said she could say almost exactly to the pound how much money site had. There was £2.260 inside the envelope and £250 outside it. She did not lose her handbag. Det.-Sergt. Grimmett . said none of the men had previous convictions. Mr. Fry remanded the three men in custody, saying he would have a report from the probation officer.