OLD MAN ROBBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 12

OLD MAN ROBBED

WATCH CHAIN STOLEN INCIDENT AT PONSONBY ACCUSED'S MANY CONVICTIONS The theft of :i gold watch chain and two greenstone pendants from an elderly man as lie seated himself in a taxi in I'onsonby Road on Tuesday evening was revealed in the Police Court yesterday, when William .John C'arr, labourer, aged 32, was charged with the offence, as well as with drunkenness and .a breach ol a prohibition order. Accused admitted all charges, pleading "guilty on provocation" to that of theft. The victim of the incident, George Beagles, said ho entered an hotel at about 5.25, and in the bar was repeatedly approached by accused, a stranger to him, who persisted in calling him "Skipper." When ho left the hotel about six o'clock, witness stepped into a taxi. Accused followed and refused to leave. As the taxi began to move lie "made a dive" at witness' vest, wrenching oil bis u<>ld chain, and breaking it from the watch. "Accused then made off, and we followed in the taxi," witness continued. "I said .1 only wished 1 could run so that 1 could catch him. Later I sent the taxi-driver to locate a constable, while I kept the accused in view." Witness was emphatic in his denial that, as accused suggested, ho gave him the chain as a Christmas box. The taxi-driver, Edward Alexander Long, said the old man was sober in ono sense, although ho had had a few drinks. Accused was properly drunk, and refused to leave the taxi when it was engaged. Ho made a deliberate grab at the old man's chain, and after breaking it off began to stagger along the road.

Sub-Inspector Fox said accused was only recently released from prison. Ho was last sentenced at Taneatua on October 22 to two months' imprisonment for being a rogue and vagabond. Altogether he had 29 convictions, including several for theft.

"You have been in trouble every year since 1929, except when you were serving a sentence for false pretences," said the magistrate, Mr. Wyvern Wilson. "You have ]2 convictions this year, and are rather fortunate you were not charged this time with theft from the person."

Accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment on the theft charge, and a fine of £3, in default seven days' imprisonment, was imposed on each of the other two charges.