THEFT OF WATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 14

THEFT OF WATCH.

AN UNSUCCESSFUL DEFENCE.

APPLICATION FOR COUNSEL.

"GOOD CASE BUT NO MONEY."

"Am I right in presuming that an accused person is given every facility to prove his innocence?" asked George Croinpton Mansfield, who was charged in the Supreme Court yesterday with the theft of a gold wristlet watch, valued at £l2 10s There was an alternative charge of receiving the watch, knowing it to be stolen. "Certainly," replied Mr. Justice Herdman. Accused added he had twice applied for counsel to bo supplied, but tho application had been declined. He, therefore, wished to renew the application. He had a good case but had no money to engage counsel. His Honor: Your application has been considered, but was declined. Accused: I am not conversant with the technical points of law. His Honor: I will help you. That is usual. Annis Bahr, a hotel waitress, said she lost a gold wristlet watch, which she left on the dressing tablo in her bedroom on June 14. She saw accused about 11.30 a.m. that day coming down the stairs from the direction of her room. She again saw him the following day, when he was on the top landing nearer her room than on the previous day. He said he was looking for a man named Hunter.

Loan Obtained on Watch. Accused: Why did not you detain the man who came and asked for a man named Hunter ? Witness: I did not really have time to stop you. Accused: I, Miss Bahr ? Do not forget lam pleading not guilty. I suppose you will be satisfied if you get a convictionWitness: Do I have to answer that question, Your Honor. His Honor. No. I expect you will be satisfied if you get your watch back. Oliver Gilby, a pawnbroker, said accused went to his shop on June 14 and asked for a loan on a gold wristlet watch. Witness had given only 15s for the watch, because only a certain amount was asked for. "What the watch was worth and what I would give for it are two entirely different things," said witness, in answer to the accused.

"Is it the correct procedure for the man Who arrested mo to give evidence against me?" asked accused when a policesergeant was called. His Honor: Yes, if you made a statement to him. "Given Every Latitude." "I wanted to subpoena eight men, but I do not know their names," said accused when the caso for the prosecution was closed. "If you had put their names with the Crown, they would have been called," said His Honor. "But I do not know their names," accused reiterated. He claimed the evidence of these witnesses would have shown he had been in another district until 12 o'clock on the day of the alleged theft. No watch or pawn tickets had been found in his possession, and no one saw him take the watch.

"If the jury finds a doubt in this case, then prisoner at the bar will be pleased to receive the benefit of that doubt," accused added. He suggested that someone knew he was due to be discharged from prison, and had impersonated him. It was not likely he would commit theft so soon after his discharge. When accused interrupted at the conclusion of the summing-up, His Honor said: —"l have given you every latitude. The case is now concluded."

The jury returned after a short adjournment with a verdict of guilty of theft.

"1 see you arrived here in 1924 and have been convicted before," said His Honor. Prisoner: The circumstances of the country caused that, sir. Prisoner was remanded until Monday for sentence. A report will be obtained meanwhile from the probation officer.