THEFT FROM A BISHOP

Hawera Star, Volume L, 5 March 1931, Page 8

THEFT FROM A BISHOP

MAN ARRESTED WITH WALLET.

JURY DISBELIEVES STORY

;By Toteirrapn—Tress Association..) HAMILTON, March 4. The removal of a wallet, four pound uotes, a cheque and some stamps from Bishop Cherriugton’s study at Bishopscourt, Hamilton, on the evening of January 5, led to Alan David Mcßoger, aged 26, being charged before Mr Justice Smith in the Hamilton Supreme Court on Tuesday with breaking and entering and theft. Accused pleaded not guilty. Mr H. T. Gillies prosecuted, and Mr J. F. Strang represented the prisoner. Bishop Cherrington said lie left the articles mentioned in a detached study at Bishopscourt, Hamilton. He missed the property next morning. 1 Evidence that he saw accused trying I to cash the bishop’s cheque in a mercer’s ! shop in Hamilton on January 6 was ! given by Constable A. Andrew. Witness arrested accused and found the wallet and stamps in his possession. Accused said he had found the wallet and its contents at Frankton. Detective A. J. White said accused wrote a statement in which he said he had found the articles in a hotel at Frankton. He said lie slept at Frankton on the night of January 5. Mr Strang contended that the bishop’s study, being a detached building, was not a dwelling house. The offence need not have been committed “bv night” as required by the Act in order lo constitute the offence charged. Further, there was no evidence that accused had entered the study.

Accused was acquitted on the charge of burglary, but was found guilty of theft. Sentence was deferred.