REV. DOCTOR ARRESTED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4458, 27 January 1917, Page 3

REV. DOCTOR ARRESTED.

SHOPLIFTING CHARGE

SOME AMAZING EVIDENCE-

The Rev. Dr. AVilliam Herman Flecker, D.C.L., J.P., of Gloucester, master of the Dean Close School, Cheltenham, was committed for trial from-Westminster Police Court, on a charge of shoplifting at the Army and Navy Stores, London. The articles he was accused of Stealing from different departments included a number of books, a tin of mincemeat, a box of sardines, and an at-tache-case, the aggregate value of tho property being £2 15s 6d. Lilia s Emerson, of the special staff at tho storey deposed that she watched the defendant for 20 minutes. She first saw him in the hook department, carrying an attache-case and a newspaper. He laid the case on some 1 volumes, and, appropriating a book, , “The Acts of the Apostles,” from «n ' upper shelf, he placed it in the case, 1 which he shut. Repairing to another | part of the department, he took a ’ number of other hooks, including sev- J oral novels, and packed them up in his newspaper. j Proceeding to tho stationery de-' partrnent downstairs, he inquired the . price of, an attache-case, but made no purchase. Soon afterwards he picked ' up a new attache-case from a pile, pub it into his newspaper parcel of books, i and walked off with the two cases— ' his own ami the one stolen. Followed into Victoria Street and stopped, lie said he was sorry he had taken the goods—lie could not get anybody to attend to him.

A FRIEND’S CARD. The superintendent of the Stores said, when detained, the reverend gentleman said lie would gladly pay for the articles. He produced a bill for sd—-his only purchase—for two Christmas almanacs. A tablet of soap and a tin of sardines were articles taken from bis pockets. Asked wild he was, he said’he was “the Rev. W. FI. Addis,” and gave that gentleman’s card, with the address “AVest China.” He also said that lie came home through Russia, and had been in London about a fortnight, and. that he was connected .with the Church -Missionary Society, and staying at the Strand Palace Hotel. Inquiries were at once made, and, as a result, prisoner was taken to the police station for his identification to be established.

Air Conway, for defendant, asked whether defendant was not in a very agitated state of mind when he gave another gentleman’s card? AVitness: Not more than usual in this class of case.

Detective-Sergeant Gooding deposed that on the way to the station accused pulled out of his pocket a case of Treasury notes, and said. “Can't you take this and let me go ? It is such a disgrace.” He made no reply to the charge, but endeavored to destroy a letter and some other papers. The letter was pieced together, and was found to deal with his reason for attendance in London. Defendant gave Ids correct name and address when charged.

THE VIEW OF A LAWYER. Mr Conway said the defendant asked the court to deal with the charge, taking that course for more reasons than one. Th&_essential reason was that innocent in this matter cf any felonious intent. Air Horace Smith: Really. I don’t think T can accept the responsibility of dealing with such a case as this. Mr Conway : The defendant was anxious to submit himself to \mir judgment, and to offer through me his explanation. The Alagistrate: My view must be that of a lawyer, and I don’t think 1 can alter my determination. I would much prefer such an issue as this to he tried before a judge and jury. Air Conway said that in that case all lie could state was that the accused pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence and called no witnesses atthe court. Mr Horace Smith committed defendant for trial to the North London sessions, accepting as bail for him the surety of the headmaster of a wellknown London school.