ALLEGED PICKPOCKETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18601, 8 January 1924, Page 5

ALLEGED PICKPOCKETS.

TWO AUSTRALIANS CAUGHT.

ONE MONTH'S IMPRISONMENT.

Arrested on the evening of Boxing Day, about a week after their arrival from Sydney, John Forbes, aged 63, and Robert Holgate, aged 39 (Mr. McLiver) were charged in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., with attempting to steal from the person of some person unknown on December 26, and also with being rogues and vagabonds in that they frequented Customs Street, being persons suspected of felonious intent. Accused pleaded not guilty. The evidence showed that almost from the day the men arrived by the Manuka they were more or less under observation by the police, and their conduct in the streets and at places where crowds gathered was frequently watched.

The first witness, Richard Allan Player, a Mount Eden resident, said that as" he was boarding a tram at the top of Symonds Street to go home about 6 p.m. on Boxing Day, he was pushed and jostled. Immediately on getting on the car he found that his purse, containing £3. Tiad disappeared from his pocket. He did not see accused.

The conductor said there was a good deal of pushing to get. on the car, and just after the complaint of having been robbed was made by the previous witness ho saw two men running away from the tram. He could not recognise them again.

Detective McHugh said he saw accused on the end of the safety zone at the top of Symonds Street and kept a watch from behind them. When a car came along Forbes put on a pair of spectacles and both men pushed into the crowd, Forbes being in front with Holgate just behind him. After the car started they went back to the end of the safety zone. This happened several limes. Forbes appeared to have something in his hand in the crowd and Holgate was looking over his shoulder at it. There were few people waiting for ono car and accused did not go up to it. They did not board any of the cars. Another car came along and accused again moved up towards it in the crowd. Witness saw Forbes apparently feeling the hip pocket of a man in front of him. Something happened and the men bolted. Witness overtook and arrested them, tolling them who he was. He had one by each hand. One of them straggled and had to be thrown to tho footpath. Forbes had about £15 in his possession and Holgate about £23. There was no sign of a purse. To Mr. McLiver witness said that when arrested accused told him how much money they had. Senior-Detective Ward and Detective Meiklejohn gave evidence as to having kept accused under observation in crowds outside places of amusement, in front of shops, and at the tram stop in Customs Street.

Mr. McLiver submitted that there -was no direct evidence against the men, who had been followed about for six days. At the most the evidence only amounted to suspicion. ; The magistrate considered there was more than suspicion against accused. Holgato, in evidence, said he came over to Auckland on a holiday and met Forbes on the boat for the first time and became friendly. Holgate said he had gone about the city, with which he was not familiar, seeing the sights. He denied that he had acted with any criminal or dishonest intent. . He gave an explanation of his conduct on several occasions referred to in the evidence for the prosecution. Cross-examined by Senior-Detective Hammond, accused said he was in New Zealand about eight months ago. Questioned as to whether he got into trouble at Napier on that visit he admitted he had paid £5 for " language." a Senior-Detective Hammond (referring to Holgate's record) : I see you are described here as a dealer and spieler. What is your occupation?—l am a dealer. Holgate admitted that a list of sentences of imprisonment imposed in Durban, Queensland, and Sydney, for offences including theft, larceny, and horse stealing, referred to him. Forbes did not give evidence. Mr. Poynton said he had no doubt as to the position. On the first charge, attempting to steal from a person unknown, accused were each sentenced to one month's imprisonment. The second charge was dismissed. Holgate was subsequently dealt with on a charge of using obscene language at Napier. After his arrest on that charge he had been released on bail of £5 but did not appear. He was fined £5 on the charge. ■ ■