THEFT FROM HOTEL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 112, 8 April 1930, Page 11

THEFT FROM HOTEL.

INTRUDER SEEN LEAVING. THREE MONTHS’ SENTENCE. Sentence of three months’ imprisonment with hard labour was passed by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, on Duncan Morton Cameron, who was convicte ;d on a charge of the theft of £1 11s 6d from Annie Clarke, the licensee of the Commercial Hotel, on April 6. Senior-Detective Quirke stated that between 11 a.m. and 11.16 a.m. yesterday Mrs Clarke left £i 19s in the cash register at the office of the hotel. She left the room for ten minutes and when she returned £1 11s 6d was missing. Two men sitting in a car outside saw accused enter the hotel, come out, look round and go back again to emerge a second time. When the discovery was made the. police were informed and they found accused in the Square. He was apprehended, taken round to the hotel and identified.

Annie Clarke, licensee of the Commercial Hotel, stated that between 11 a.m. and 11.10 a.m. yesterday slid left the office, and there then was t'l 19s in the till. _ When she returned £1 11s 6d was missing and the sum of 3s was found on the floor. •

Harold. Walkley, car salesman, residing at the Commercial Hotel, stated that at the time he and another man were sitting in a car outside the hotel. Accused entered, was in about two minutes and came out. He looked up and down the street, entered again and came out after about half a minute. Later Mrs Clarke asked witness if he had seen anyone come out of. the hotel and. he said he had. He then followed accused round the corner, where the latter disappeared. No one else came out of the hotel durfug that time. George Anstis gave similar evidence to the previous witness, and _ stated that he last saw accused walking towards Main Street. Ensign Sydney James Bridge, of the Salvation Army, stated that after the open air meeting on Saturday last accused asked if the Army had an institution where he could obtain a bed. Asked if he was “up against it,” he said he was, and was broke. He was given lodgings for the night: Detective Russell stated that accused was apprehended in the Square, where he said he. had £1 3s in his possession, but when searched he had. IT 11s 6d. He denied having been near the hotel, and when formally charged accused said: “I am saying nothing. I want to see a solicitor.” On receiving the message intimating that a theft,had taken place,, said Senior-Detective Quirke he went one side of the Square and Detective Russell the other side. Witness found accused half-jogging along and looking behind him. He was accosted and arrested. ~. J . Accused, in a statement from the. dock, stated that he had two £1 notes in his possession on the Sunday morning. He had been drinking, and had no recollection of entering the hotel. ■ “I am afraid we can’t accept that statement,” said the Magistrate. “The money found on you was in the exact denominations of that which was missing.” Accused was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour, arid -an order was mode for the return of the stolen money,