LOSS OF WALLET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 21

LOSS OF WALLET

INCIDENT AT PARTY MAORI VISITOR ROBBED TWO MEN FOUND GUILTY Two men who were alleged to have been I'esponsible for the robbery of a wallet from a Maori in a house in Hobson Street on the night of December 17, stood trial before Mr. Justice Fair in the Supreme Court yesterday. They were Victor Lynn Norris (Mr. Henry), aged 32, and Edward McFarland (Mr. Robinson), aged. 29; and they were charged with theft .from the person of a wallet, and its contents, amounting to £l6.

The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, said that the complainant, Charles Howard, had come in to town for a holiday from the King Country. Ho alleged that McFarland, whom he met in a house in Hobson Street, professed to be able to guess his weight by lifting him up and robbed him of his wallet while doing so. The complainant, Howard, said that after attending a dance at the Trades Hall on the evening of December 17, he went to a party at a house in. Hobson Street. There McFarland spoke to him and said he could guess his weight. "As soon as he lifted me up I felt my wallet going up," said witness. "I knew my wallet was gone, but I did not like to say anything. I asked for a drink." Norris left the room just after McFarland put witness down. Witness afterwards complained to a Maori, Nick Wikaira, and he held Norris while witness got McFarland from another room. Norris got away, but was afterward brought back, and the police were summoned. Witness was quite sober that night. Evidence given by Wikaira and by several police witnesses showed that the wallet had been found empty hidden in the lious;e near where McFarland had been standing. Both accused asked to be searched, but the missing money was not found on them. No evidence was called for the defence.

Mr. Henry submitted that practically none of the evidenco pointed to Norris. Mr. Robinson pointed out that anyone else in the house that evening might have removed Howard's pocket book and taken the money. His Honor said that mere suspicion, however grave, was not sufficient, and unless they were completely satisfied from the evidence that the accused committed the offence they ought not to convict. They might think that the evidence against Norris was not of the same weight, as that against McFarland.

The jury found both accused guilty after a retirement of 20 minutes and they were remanded for sentence.