THEFT DENIED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22320, 3 May 1947, Page 6

THEFT DENIED

RACEGOER’S LOSS MEN TO BE TRIED PICK-POCKET ALLEGATION (P.A.) NELSON, May 2. James Wilson and Patrick John Mee, who stated that they had come from Australia, were committed to the Supreme Court at Nelson for trial on charges that on April 19 they stole £BO fiom the person of Charles James Ruft'ell at the Richmond Park racecourse. Detective-Sergeant J. J. Murray, in evidence, said he saw the two accused on the course. After their arrest Wilson had said that he had never seen Mee before and that the first time he had seen him was when they were arrested. Mee had agreed with Wilson's statement. Police Search Accused Continuing, the witness said he searched Wilson at the Nelson police station. He had £B3 13s 6d. made up of seven £lO notes, one £5, eight £1 and one 10s. Wilson had in his possession the return portion of a steamer ticket from Nelson to Wellington for April 19 in the name of Mr. Adams. Also in Wilson’s possession was a bank deposit slip for £360 dated April 9, 1947, on the Auckland branch of the Bank of New Zealand in the name of

Thomas Lee. He had another deposit slip dated April 14, 1947, on the Auckland branch of the bank fox £GO in the 1 name of T. Lee. . Wilson told witness that he arrived in New Zealand from Australia about a month previously and that his address was the Hotel Auckland. Auckland. He denied that he was concerned with any pocket-picking offences on the racecourse. Mee had £199 Os 7d in his possession, made up of 17 £lO notes, four £5, six £1 and three 10s. He gave his address as the People's Palace, Auckland, and said he had come from Australia to New Zealand about 12 months ago. Serial Number on Notes Witness said he had examined the £lO notes held by the teller at a Nelson bank on April 29. Seven of the £lO notes in Mee's possession and several in Wilson’s possession were of the same serial number as those held by the bank, and which are in circulation in Nelson. Neither accused had any totalisator tickets in his possession when arrested. Both the accused pleaded not guilty. Counsel for the accused, Mr. M. C. H. Cheek, applied tor bail, which was opposed by the police. The magistrate refused to grant bail in the case of Wilson, in respect of Mee he said that if there was definite evidence that detention would be injurious to his health, he would give the matter further consideration, Mr Cheek also raised the question of £240" produced as an exhibit of £lO notes in the court, claiming that the charges related to only £BO. The whole amount should not be impounded. The magistrate agreed that only £BO should be impounded as an exhibit.