CHASE IN CITY STREETS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20454, 4 January 1930, Page 12

CHASE IN CITY STREETS.

PURSUIT OF HOTEL THIEF.

TILL IN BAR-ROOM ROBBED

After a chase from Victoria Street West through the timber yards in Freeman's Bay, Austin Walker, aged 35, seaman, was arrested on Thursday morning. In the Police Court yesterday he denied the theft of £2 3s 5d from the till in a bar of a city hotel. Polico evidence showed that accused entered a small private bar which was left unoccupied for a short time, and had been seen coming from behind the counter by the licensee's daughter, who heard the till being opened. She accused him of stealing from the till, but he denied'any offence, and left by a side door, entering the public bar, where he was detained by the licensee. He then broke away, and was followed to the timber yards in Freeman's Bay, but eluded the pursuers, only to be caught later in Beaumont Street by a constable and a passer-by who had joined the chase. When accused was arrested he had lis Id in his possession.

Accused said he had not touched the till. The first he heard of the theft was when the licensee's daughter accused him of stealing the money, which ho denied. He then went into the public bar, v.-here he again denied the robbery, then leaving the premises. Accused was convicted and remanded until Tuesday for further inquiries. An application for bail by Mr. Hogben was refused.