THE “GRAB” HOLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 22 December 1938, Page 6

THE “GRAB” HOLD

EXPENSIVE WRESTLING TUITION A PENSIONER ROBBED GAOL FOR INSTRUCTOR WELLINGTON. This Day. ’This class of offence is merely i more refined pickpocketing, enticing a man into a side street and apparently when indulging in horseplay, and under cover of horseplay, going through hi* pockets,” said Mr Lux lord, S.M., when dealing with Eric John Jones (38), labourer and hawker, for theft from the person of D L. B. Roes, of a tobacco tin containing two £1 notes, an art union ticket and a war discharge certificate. a total value of £2 Is “It is a very serious matter and one I cannot pass over leniently.” He imposed a sentence of three months’ hard labour. Ross, a pensioner of 65. said he was asked if he was “Sullivan " This ended in an apology and an invitation to a drink. They were joined by two other* and then the men began showing him wrestling holds. He found the tin gone and got away and met a policeman, and they managed to catch one of the men with the tin on him. The Magistrate: “We will have to call this one the “grab” instead of the “crab.” Ross said he had about 18s in his trousers’ pocket and that was cleaned out too. SIMILAR CASE AT GISBORNE MAN RELIEVED OF £7O GISBORNE. This Day. A report that he had been relieved of £7O in banknotes by a stranger who had offered to demonstrate wrestling holds, was made to the police this morning by a 60-year-old farm labourer who had come to town for the holidays. Before coming to Gisborne yesterday the man cashed a cheque for £7O. and subsequently was drintHnw *n a hotel during the afternoon. He was followed from the bar by a stranger who started to show him wrestling holds, the roll of notes being missed shortly afterwards. As a re«ult of inquiries an identification parade was held this morning, but complainant was unable to identify of the men as his wrestling instructor.