FAILED TO APPEAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 February 1926, Page 5

FAILED TO APPEAR.

ACCUSED MAN MISSING

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 18.

“The bird has flown,” declared Chief Detective Cummings in the Police Court "this afternoon, when Reginald Phillips failed' to make his appearance when his name was called for the second time during the day. Phillips, who is one of a trio of men charged with the theft of benzine at Taupo, was out on bail of £250, with an additional surety of £250. His name was first called in the morning, when his counsel, Mr. Ward, asked that the matter should be held in abeyance until after the luncheon adjournment. Mr. Ward said that when bailed Phillips left for Wanganui, where his people lived. Counsel understood that he was to have motored back to Auckland, so that his non-appearance might possibly be explained by a breakdown of his motor. He had sent a telegram of inquiry to Wanganui, and expected to have a reply in the afternoon.

The magistrate (Mr. Poynton) granted the adjournment. When the case was called in the afternoon, Mr. Ward said he had received a telegram from Wanganui. It stated that Phillips had left on Monday, and he was supposed to be returning to Auckland. On the application of Chief Detective Cummings, .the magistrate then issued a warrant for the arrest of Phillips, and ordered that steps should be taken to recover the bail. The missing man’s two companions, Thomas Smith and James Mayne, who were unable to find the necessary sum to secure their release on bail, were brought before the court and remanded to appear at Rotorua in a week’s time. An application by Smith for a reduction of his bail was refused