DEBONAIR VAGRANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18550, 7 November 1923, Page 7

DEBONAIR VAGRANT.

A "BLUFF" THAT FAILED. THREAT TO USE REVOLVER ADMITS HE IS ABSCONDER. . An emphatic denial of guilt was made by William Thomas, aged 30, < when he ' was charged at the Police Court yesterday, before Mr.;^.^W./^ynton v S.M., , | with being an idle and disorderly per--1 son, and with having 5 issued : : a valueless , | cheque at Palmerston ■, North. Accused ! entered the Court with. a prosperous; and , ' ! casual air, and his face continue*to wear !! a supercilious smile while Senior-Detective , i Hammond explained the reasons for his Arrest/*' * ■''•"' * ■"■ ■ **Vj-:- *"■-■ Acting-Detective Barling said he arj rested Thomas in Grafton Road .-;' on a !! recent evening in consequence of susi picions he had concerning his -identity. j When he was taking accused to the defective office for examination,- ™>™ : suddenly stopped in the middle aof _ the road and requested the detective to hold |up his hands. Thomas had one' hand in ! his coat pocket and acted as though he j had a revolver. When the detective ati ten.ptel to hold his arm Thomas became | dramatic and said "Stand back or I will j drill you through." Detective Barling l was not impressed, and he closed with I Thomas, who then submitted to arrest. ' When searched at the police station Thomas was found 'to have a varied selection of odds and ends in his pocket. i A toothbrush, a false moustache, and a ; bottle of glim were among the effects? ! found upon the debonair young man, but i thp lethal weapon with which he had ; threatened to take the detective's life 1 failed to materialise. t - Cross questioned by Senior-Detective ! Hammond, Thomas stated that he had i been in Auckland only five days prior to \ his arrest. fHe asserted that he had rei cently arrived in Wellington from San | Francisco, and had ample money for his ; needs. The Senior-Detective: If you can proI duce the money the charge of being idle ; and disorderly will be withdrawn. j Accused: I "have £60, but that is ray ! own liu.-iness Mr. Hammond: You have not got a j cent beyond the few pence found -.i ;tiur I pockets. In "reply to the senior-detective, Thomas ■ admitted he was identical with Elward Matthews, who had absconded from bail iin Australia. He denied he had ever been ; in Palmerston North, where he was al- ; leged to have issued a cheque drawn upor. I an Australian bank. Mr. Hammond: Have you exar used ! fraudulent cheques? Accused: Not in New Zealand. Mr. Hammond: Elsewhere *' ■• Accused (nonchalantly): Perhaps I have. v; * The Magistrate: The evidence upon the first charge is quite 'sufficient to convict/ accused. He has no money and no lawful ' occupation, and the only safe course is I to send him .to Mount Eden for three I months. . _ ~ Upon the application of Senior-Detective ! Hammond, a remand was granted in conI nection with the charge of false preten.'us. I When accused left the dock his air of t indifference had given place to an exnression of despondent contemplation.