WIFE ACCUSES HUSBAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19564, 17 February 1927, Page 13

WIFE ACCUSES HUSBAND.

t CHARGE OF THEFT MADE. MONEY AND PAPERS IN BOX. The hearing of a- charge against William Barnard Keane, aged 40 (Mr. Dickson), of stealing a box containing documents and papers and £6O in banknotes, the property of his wife, was continued in the Police Court yesterday before Mr. W. E. McKean, S.M. George Searle, carrier, said that about 2 p.m. on February 4 he met accused outside the latter's shop in Ponsonby Road. Accused said: "I saw Mrs. Keane tret on a tram. Now is my chance to get those letters she stole from me. 1 ' Accused wknt to Mrs. Keane's residence and brought out a box, which he placed on witness' cart. Witness drove to accused's shop arid the latter took the box inside and broke open the lock. Accused picked up a purse from the box and took out a roll of notes There would not be more than £6 in the rolL Witness said, " They do not belong to you, so put them down," and accused put them back. Accused then picked out some photographs and put them in his pocket. Accused asked witness to take the box back when he had finished, but witness had then to leave to do another job. Mr. Dickson asked the magistrate to dismiss the charge, submitting that there was no case to answer before a jury. The evidence of accused's wife was nnsatisfactorv in the extreme in regard to the manner in which the sum of £6O was made up and where she got it from. The daughter and her mother contradicted each other regarding the dates on which different sums were received. Searle's evidence showed that there was a lack of criminal intent. ill*. McKean said that although, there was a discrepancy in the statements of the two witnesses in regard to the source of the money, they certainly agreed that a £2O note had been put into the bos. Accused had a considerable sum on him when arrested. So long as there was some evidence against accused the case j must go before a jury. Accused was committed to the Supreme | Court for trial.