Charged With Hoarding Foreign Currency

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1944, Page 5

Charged With Hoarding Foreign Currency

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. A sequel to a robbery at Sunshine Grill Rooms in the city on November 23 when £14,000 was stolen, was ihe appearance of the proprietor, Thomas Vittle, before the magistrate (Mr Luxford) on a charge of committing a breach of the Financial Emergency Regulations, 1940, by failing to offer foreign moneys to the Reserve Bank.

Sydney Redvers Salter, manager of a tailoring firm, said he had visited defendant’s bedroom and noticed in an open safe, books and bundles of notes. He had suggested to Vittle that it. was risky to keep money on the premises, but Vittle said there was always somebody about so he did not worry. Vittle remarked that there was £12.000 there but witness did not know whether he meant pounds or dollars.

Vittle had said he was trying to accumulate dollars in case he went to America after the war to see his people.

Disagreement With Wife

Cecilia Madeline Radich, employee at the Grill Room, said any American dollars passed over the counter were paid by her into the bank. Last October witness paid 2100 dollars to the bank to be changed. So far as she knew defendant habitually got rid of dollars and English' and Australian currency as they came in. He was forced to keep some dollars for change for Americans who preferred change in their own currency. She knew Vittle and his wife were living apart and Mrs Vittle had taken steps regarding proceedings, alleging failure to maintain and habitual cruelty.

Cross-examined, witness admitted that detectives told Vittle they suspected him of having made away with the money himself, and that was to defeat his wife. The case is proceeding.