CHARGES OF ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14303, 24 February 1910, Page 6

CHARGES OF ROBBERY.

A LEFT LUGGAGE TICKET.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

At the Police Court yesterday morning, before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., two men named Isaac Walters and John Corcoran were charged with stealing from £2 to £3 in cash, ono pair of boots, and a check luggage ticket from Leslie Norman Sykes, on February 9 last. Isaac Walters was further charged with stealing, from the Auckland railway station two portmanteaux, valued at £15, ■ belonging to tho same person.

Sub-Inspector Hondrey, in opening the case for the prosecution, stated that the man Sykes came to town on February 9, and deposited his luggage, which consisted of two portmanteaux, at the railway etation. Later on tho same day tho two accused were seen dragging Sykes, who was evidently intoxicated, on to a vacant section, and when he came to himself he found that he had been robbed. Subsequently the boxes were found with Walters at an hotel. The accused were arrested, and in Corcoran's pocket was found a handkerchief belonging to Sykes.

Leslie Norman' Svke>s, in giving evidence, stated that on the morning of the 9th inst. he arrived in the city, and left his luggage as stated, and received a ticket for it. He then got "on tha spree," and went to the Waverley Hotel, though whether he had a drink with Walters there he was unable to remember. He had £4 or £5 in his pocket at the time, but did not remember leaving the hotel. Ho had intended to go on to Lyttelton the same evening. .

William Porter, a licensed carrier, remembered seeing the two prisoners leading Sykes down Custom-street on the date in question. Sykes was then very drunk, and the accused seemed to be holding him up. They took him across the railway line and on to a vacant section, where they dropped him and proceeded to go through his pockets. Witness was some 10yd6 away, and there were some five or six others present. Witness thought they were robbing ' the man, and suggested that the - police ' should "be rung up; but no one seemed disposed to interfere. He could not swear to the identity of Walters. ' .

William Forgie, a carter, gave similar evidence, and stated that he was sure of the identity of both accused. "

■ Harold Tomlinson, a porter, employed by the New Zealand Railway Department, stated that lie was on duty on the 9th inst., -and remembered that about 9.30 a.m. Sykes deposited his . luggage at the office, lor which he gave him a left-luggage ticket. About 12 o'clock the e&me day Walters came to him, presented the ticket, and took the luggage away. Later Mr. Sykes arrived, . minus his boots, and stated that no one'; had had authority to remove his luggage. Witness was certain 'Walters was the man. ' "

Andrew Moros, barman of the Britomart Hotel, stated that he saw the two accused at the hotel on the date in question. Shortly after mid-day Walters came into the bar and asked witness if lie could leave some luggage. Witness took him round to the 'side entrance and showed him where to leave -it. The luggage was the same as that produced in Court. Accused then went away, but returned in the afternoon to ask if a carrier named Johnson was about.' Witness' pointed out Johnson to him, and accused asked Johnson to take his . things • away. This, was not done, and witness reported , the matter to the police. ...'■ '

Gilbert Johnson, a licensed carrier, remembered seeing : Walters in ' the bar of the Britomart Hotel. He -wanted witness to move his luggage, but -witness did"not care to touch the job, and left the luggage where it ; was.. , „

Sergeant Ramsay gave evidence with regard to the arrest of Walters, who later in the day pointed out Sykes as the man who had given him the luggage ticket'. Corcoran was arrested the following day, and, on being searched, a handkerchief belonging to Sykes was found in his possession. -

Isaac'. Walters stated 'that- he was given the ticket, and paid a carrier to take the luggage to an hotel. As he "was a stranger, and knew no one in the city; there was nowhere else to take it. He was unable to again find the owner of the luggage, as he had been locked up for drunkenness. With regard to the robbery, he stated that he had never met the.other prisoner., ■■ When arrested- he was standing beside him 'in the Britomart Hotel, but did not know him. : '■

• John Corcoran stated thivt he went to catch a train at the station on the day in . question. He missed it, and on leaving the station found Sykes lying on the ground near the new post office. ...There was a man with ' him, who seemed' to be trying to lift him up, and he took the man for' Sykes' mate. "He asked me," proceeded the witness, " to help him take Sykes out of the track of the . police, and I did so. We deposited him on the vacant section, and I accidentally carried the handkerchief away with me." Both accused, who pleaded not guilty, were committed for trial at the next sitting of the .Supreme Court.