Locked Doors and Open Windows

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 174, 26 July 1938, Page 9

Locked Doors and Open Windows

HOTEL BEDROOMS ENTERED A struggle for a ring that the police had -with a man suspected of stealing it, was related in the Palmerston North Magistrate’s Court yesterday before Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M. The accused was James Trevor Morgan, a labourer, aged 24 years. Detective-Sergeant Meiklejobn stated that when Mr. and Mrs. Shaw went to their room at the Royal Hotel, they found the door locked. A porter opened the room for them by way of the fire escape and window and it was then discovered that two engagement rings valued at £22 were missing. Detective Power and Constable Steffanson visited accused’s place of residence but a search was fruitless. Morgan was asked to remove his boots and while doing that, Detective saw something in accused’s hand glitter. A struggle ensued when the detective grabbed Morgan’s hand and the latter refused to open it. Tho hand had to be forced open and the ring was discovered. Morgan pleaded guilty, but would not admit a further charge that he was a rogue and vagabond in that he Was found by night without lawful excuse on the premises of the Imperial Hotel. May O’Sullivan, a waitress at the Imperial Hotel, stated in evidence that when she went to her room about 6 p.m. she found the door locked, but she heard tho bed creak. She went away to make inquiries and on returning found the door would open. Tne window was open and she could see a man standing on the fire escape. She called out, “Is that you, Cyril,’’ to receive the reply, “Yes, May.” However, the voice was not Cyril’s so she followed through to see tho man going down the. stairway Later she saw Morgan in the bar and accused him of being in her room. To Mr. McGregor, counsel for accused, witness said she knew accused through his connection with hockey. She eould not sec the face of the man as he went down the stairs, but recognised the coat he was wearing. George McCastle, steel worker, said he was in the Imperial Hotel yard when Mrs. O’Sullivan called out to witness to see who the man was going down the stairs. He discovered it was Morgan, 1 who told witness to keep quiet. Mrs. F. Houlihan, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, said accused had no right to be in Mrs. O’Sullivan’s room. She had told Morgan that she did not want him about the place at any time. | Giving evidence on his own behalf, Morgan denied the allegations. He had ' never been upstairs in the Imperial! Hotel. His Worship considered Morgan guilty- 1

Deteetiye-Sergeant Meiklejohn informed his Worship that in February last Morgan was before the Court,' having been found on the premises of the Family Hotel. On that occasion the barman heard a window of the storeroom being opened and accused and an- | other man were discovered in the yard “ e got 14 days’ hard labour for that Morgan was a cheeky typo and a man »ird to deal with—he invited one to zo * far as one could. Mr. McGregor said accused was quite a good citizen when not taking drink, i

f ■. -■ , When he did drink his faculties got muddled. His Worship: Do you suggest ho was intoxicated when the detectives visited his house. j j Mr. Lawry directed attention to tho similarity of the circumstances in tho two charges—locked doors and open windows. Apparently Morgan went from ono episode to the other. The smallest penalty ho could impose was two months’ gaol on each charge, thej sentences to be concurrent. >