FOUND NECKLACE WORTH NEARLY £1000

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6672, 27 July 1928, Page 7

FOUND NECKLACE WORTH NEARLY £IOOO

City Business Man Holds For Rise in Reward AND HAS TO ANSWEB THEFT CHARGE f Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. On June 4 last a lady residing in Eemuera lost a string of 165 pearls In the-form of a necklace with a diamond clasp at the Ellerslie racecourse. The man who found the necklace, Michael Maher, appeared at the Police Court this morning charged with having stolon pearls valued at £990. . E. J. Derrous, jeweller, gave evidence that early in Juno Maher showed witness the pearls and asked if they were valuable. Witness replied that they were worth between £2OO and £3OO. He now admitted that they were worth £990. Accused asked if they were worth a reward, and -witness suggested £lO. Detective Hunt stated that on Juno 25 ho interviewed Maher who admitted finding the pearls at the racecourse gates. He put them in his pocket and said he forgot about the pearls until two days afterwards when he saw an advertisement and telephoned to the owner ’s house. He was told that unless the pearls had a diamond clasp it would be no use bringing them to. her house. Accused added that he was waiting a few days in anticipation of the reward being decreased. Maher occupied a prominent position \in a city business, and had a good character and reputation. ■■ - ; ■ ' • Mr. M'Kean, S.M;, said, in reply to accused’s counsel, that it was for a jury' and not himself to say whether there was a case to answer. Accused was committed, to the Supreme Court for'trial. Maher, who appeared voluntarily, was allowed bail in one surety of £2O.