ACTIONS OF DOG

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23129, 30 August 1938, Page 16

ACTIONS OF DOG

MASTER ARRESTED

PONSONBY ROAD INCIDENT AN ALLEGATION OF THEFT How the ' actions of a wire-haired terrier led to the arrest of its master at an early hour on August 23 was described in the Police Court yesterday. when a jockey, Michael Stewart, aged 23. appeared before Mr. W. 11. McKean, S.M., on a charge of breaking and entering the counting house of Alder and Company, Limited, 130 Ponsonby Road, and committing theft. Sub-Inspector Fox prosecuted and Mr. Winter appeared for accused. A motor driver, Thomas Muir Hatton, said that about 1 a.m. on August 23 he wes walking along Ponsonby lload in company with a friend. Approaching the garage premises occupied by Alder and Company, Limited, they saw a wire-haired terrier howling as if it were lost. A few moments later the dog started jumping up toward a window, which they saw was broken. A taxi-driver was stopped and asked to eoinmunicato tho fact to the police.

"The dog then ran to the front of the garage,witness continued, "and wo saw accused leaving the front door on hrs tip-toos. Accused started to run away, but we overtook him and held him. He said, 'This is the ruin of my career,' and offered us £lO each if wo would let him go. We refused and called out to a police sergeant and constable who wore in the vicinity. Accused later left with tho police, and the dog followed tho party up the road."

Corroborative evidence was given by Hatton's companion, Daniel Earl Vinson. Constable P. W. Maxted said ho found accused in company with tho previous witnesses. When accused saw him, he had said, "I am finished now; the came is up." Witness arrested him and took him to tho Newton police station. While they were proceeding along tho road, accused dropped two packages over a fence. These were later recovered by witness, who also picked up a number of similar packages dropped by accused on tho road. On arrival at tho police station, accused was searched and £2 10s in pennies and nine silver coins were found in his possession. Accused told witness that the dog belonged to him. James Kerby Hackett, bowser attendant employed at the garage, said several packages of pennies had been missed from the office. Packages produced in Court were stated by witness to be similar to those missing. Witness also identified a number of silver coins produced as thoso which had previously been kept in a cash box in the safe. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed.