ROBBED IN A HOTEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16763, 1 February 1918, Page 4

ROBBED IN A HOTEL.

DRUGGED DRINKS ALLEGED. If TWO MEN COMMITTED FOd TRIAL. M Thefts from visitors staying at the Wait*, ,}H mata Hotel, alleged to have taken place on Christmas Eve last, were the subject *V of charges preferred against- two men iffl named Charles F. Barker, alias Burrows «w (Mr. Moody), and David Todd at • the iH Police Court yesterday before Mr. F. V. Frazer, S.M. The charges were that they (,':' jointly stole the sum of £10, the property SS of John Jones, £4, the property of Joseph f>S Hollis, and £7, the property of John' R. .' )?i Hicks. Todd was also charged that on v%5 December 25 he attempted to steal a $w| watch and chain, the property of Jaraej '".' -_-" Cooper. Both accused pleaded not guilty . - to all charges. . • 'im Evidence was given by John Hicks, of f-'B Pukemiro, that he met the accused on &soi stairway at the hotel, and had a drink -■' from a bottle of whisky which they "3$ offered him. He and Jones and accused went to witness's room, and after a final ;|f I drink, which he received from Todd, he ' •'■;■• i knew no more until the following morn- ,*tS ing, when he missed £6 in notes, tome : ''-}*• silver, his tie-pin, and a tin match-box. "-v He considered that the last drink was ■:<;<■ "doped." He identified the raatch-box .'•> produced in Court by a particular mark on it. '*Mfs John Jones, coachbuilder, of Ngaruawahia, said he also lest his memory after, the last drink, and awoke in his own room < $. next morning, missing over £10. * - J-|* Robert McCornish,. Cambridge, who accepted a drink from Todd during the "- evening, also said he considered the VJ whisky was drugged . Joseph Hollis, of Taumarunui, also had drinks with accused. He stated that he awoke about 2 a.m., and saw a man, whom ' ',- he took to be Todd, going out of his room, r,. In the morning he discovered that? £4 had 0 been taken from his purse. . j pjsm Ernest Beach, who had engaged a room ■'.',) at the hotel, eaid he went into Cooper's h "g room and ha saw Todd taking Cooper's - •;• watch and chain. Beach made Todd put .?'.' the watch b'ack. ' • % Evidence was also given by several .f. : : police officers as to the friendly relations '*M of the accused and their denial when '+, charged with the thefts at the hotel. ; • • . Jonn Kerr, a friend of Hicks, who was with, the party on Christmas Eve, identified the match-box found in the possesion of accused. _ „ :;>.{. . . Accused reserved their defence, and ..;',&, were committed for trial to the Supreme Court, Barker' being allowed bail in one* surety of £50. ■-~-.• • •■,- • A "further charge. against both. accused. that they stole £20, the property of James Cooper, was adjourned until to-morrow , morning to enable Cooper to attend. Two J|| I other charges against Barker, of being an * 2 idle and disorderly person, and of being on -M the premises of. the Waitemata Hotel with- . out lawful excuse, were withdrawn. a; .-....■ ■ -. ■ J53 M