ALLEGED POCKET-PICKING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18573, 27 November 1920, Page 11

ALLEGED POCKET-PICKING.

. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr S. E. M’Carthy, 8.51., Janies Watson, alias Walter Gray, alias Hume, alias Murray, alias Percy Wickham, aged thirty-nine, a nativo of New South Wales, was charged with having stolen, at Ashburton on November 8, a wallet and £4 10s from the person of Austin Frederick Sargent. Accused was further charged -with having stolen, on November 9, the sura of £45 from the person of James Douglas, and on the same date, at Addington* having attempted to steal from the person. A further charge wus preferred against the accused of being a rogue and vagabond, in that he, being a suspected person frequented a public placej the Addington racecourse, with felonious intent. Chief-Detective M’Uvenov conducted the caso for the police, Mr Cuthbort, for Mr Thomas, representing the accused. Austin F. Sargent, newspaper reporter, Christchurch, gave evidence to the effect that on November 8 he was travelling to Christchurch by the first express from the south. He left the .train at Ashburton to obtain some refreshment. While standing among the crowd at the buffet he was jostled by* a man, nnd subsequently found that a wallet in his hip pocket was missing. The wallet contained £4 10s and was in his pocket when the man jostled him. The man took no refreshment at the buffet. Witness went after the man as soon as he missed his wallet, and saw him board the train. With Detective Cameron witness went through the train and they found the missing wallet lodged behind a filter in one of the lavatories. They went through the train with a view to finding the accused but did not find him. Two days later, at the Christchurch Police Station, witness identified the accused among a number of other men, as the man whom he suspected of stealing his wallet

Senior-Detective Allen Cameron gave evidence to the effect that he was travelling on the same train as the witness Sargent on November b. In consequence of a complaint made to him by the witness Sargent he searched the train for accused, but did not find him. The missing wallet was found behind a filter in one of the lavatories. Its contents were intact. Detective-Sergeant Gibson gave, evidence ’as to arresting the accused at the Addington races on November 9. A railway excursion return ticket was among his effects. Accused pleaded not guilty. He reserved his defence and was committed to tiio Supreme Court for trial. Tho other charges were then taken, ono set of depositions being taken for all. William M’Namara, a clerk in the Publio Works Department, said that he was on the raoeeoprse at Addington on November 9. He had about £lO in his possession. While in the crowd he felt an undue pressure against him from behind, and oil looking round he saw the accused. For a moment the pressure relaxed, but was resumed, and when witness felt in his pocket he found that £5 had been stolen. Detective-Sergeaut Gibson stated that while on duty at the Addington races on November 9, he received several complaints about people being robbed. After the fourth race witness, with Detective Sheehan, saw accused place his hand- inside an old man’s coat, and with his mate search the pockets. When the two men attempted to get away they were stopped by witness and taken to tho secretary's office, where they were searched. The accused and his mate denied any knowledge of each other. Accused had banked £B6 in Christchurch on the day he was arrest ed, and £IOO had been banked in Wellington a few days previously by his mute. Both men had pocket books containing entries of sums of money. In the case of accused the entries commenced with a sum of £--09 10s, and in the case of the accused’s mate, who gave his name as Harold George, with a sum of £509 18s. Constable Bell, Ashburton, stated that about five minutes > aft«r the witness Sargent had laid a complaint to him, he saw the accused’s mate, George, on the train. Witness recognised George from the photograph produced in Court. In connection with the charge against, tho accused of stealing £45 from James Douglas, ho was jointly charged with Harold George in respect of this alleged offence. As the accused George had disappeared while out on bail, and the police had no evidence to offer, the cliargo was struck out, to bo brought on later if George is re-arrested. Mr Cuthbert applied for bail for accused, pointing out that if bail were not granted accused would be in cus tody for three months- Counsel submitted that accused had a right to bail on tho charges of attempted theft and vngabondey, and submitted thal a weak piima case had been made out in respect of the alleged theft at Ashburton. Tho Magistrate said that he disagreed with counsel on the latter point, and considered that the case was not one for bail. Bail was accordingly refused.