THEFT FROM A HOTEL

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1913, Page 6

THEFT FROM A HOTEL

ACCUSED SENT TO GAOL

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before J. G. L. Hewitt, Esq., S.M., John McConville arid Duncan Klcever were, charged with stealing on the 17th. of April, 1913, at Grey mouth one overcoat (valued at £$. 15s) .and one pair of gloves (valued .at ss) the property of Ernest Clough. Inspector Phair conducted the prosecution.

Mr. Joyce appeared for both accused who pleaded not guilty. Miss Cassidy said that the accused came to... the Royal Hotel from Bealey .Flat and obtained accommodation. At about hall past two on the 17th inst. she saw ihe smaller accused in No. 10 bedroom which was occupied by Mr Clough and the taller one wa sin beuroom No. 20 which was occupied by a young lady. The man in No. 10 room was lying on the bed with a fawn coloured macintosh coat on his arm. Witness asked the first man to get outand he went into room No 1 1 which he told witness he had been looking for. The man in No. 20 room she also asked to go out and he also went into room No. 11. The men had no right to enter the rooms. They told witness in the morning that they were g-oihg away by the Mauounka. coat produced was like the one she saw in the smaller man's possession. To Mr Joyce: Witnes thought that the men' had mistaken the Tvurr.bers of their -rooms. , Ernest Clough, hairdresser. *aid that he resided at- the Royal Hotel. He did not know either of the accused* His room was No. 10. On the , 7 th inst. he left his room at 8 o'clock 11 tlie morning ,his coat and gloves were then hanging behind a door He missed them when he returned tojus room at 6 o'clock at night. The coat cost him £4 15s and grloves :«>.. The coat and gloves produced wc-v what he missed fromv his room He bad given accused no authority to ?ake the articles. Witness reported hts loss to Mr. R. Russell, the proprietor of the note* and it was then T2^&Sfe tra r f t e haf Te Waiuta to Wellington, said that he had been a' passenger on the Mapou denied aIL knowledge of it -. Witness look chaxge of the coat J^ p .*^ d . accused, taking them ashore at jSei son. where they were remanded to G^™ined by Mr. Joyce: He saw HfcConville on the Mapounka wearing the coat. Constable Mcßoberts gave evidence to the effect of having seen me .jvo accused proceeding towards the Mapourika along the mam street. Ihe taller man was carrying a coat over his shoulder but witness could not describe »he. coat. , - Mr. Joyce submitted., that the ca.e must be dismissed there being no Silence before the Court that there had been a theft committed by the * C lnspcctor Phair put in a lengthy list of conviction against McConville for drunkenness and assault . His Worship said that a -theft from a hotel was one of the worst, tacti accused would be sentenced to seven days' imprisonment.