CHINESE ROBBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23488, 27 October 1939, Page 12

CHINESE ROBBED

LOSS OF £137 IN NOTES MAORI WOMAN CONVICTED PLEA FROM THE DOCK A Maori woman, apod 44, Materia Brown, was charged before Mr. Justice Fair in tlic Supremo Court yesterday with theft from the person and on an alternative count of theft. The Crown alleged that she assaulted a Chinese, Lec Tung, in Myers Park 011 August 27 and robbed him of £137 10s. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. Jl. Meredith, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. McCarthy appeared for the defence. Mr. Meredith said Jung had gone to a Chinese restaurant at the bottom of Grey's Avenue carrying £137 10s, mostly in £5 notes, and there lie met the accused. Afterward she stole the notes from him in Myers Park and got away. She ordered a taxi and bought £2 worth of flowers and fruit, which she said she was taking to the matron of the gaol. When the taxidriver cautioned her about the way she was handling a roll of £5 notes she said she had plenty of money. When he returned later to a place in Nelson Street to drive her to Awakino he found she had been arrested. Bundle of £5 Notes Constables who interviewed her were able to prevent her getting rid of a bundle of 2G £0 notes and one single note, said Sir. .Meredith.-She said the Chinese bad given her the money to mind for .him. Lee Jung, a laundryman, aged 09, told his stor.v through an interpreter. He said he had been about 30 years in New Zealand, but did not know much English. . Evidence was given by a taxi-driver who had driven the accused, by a shopkeeper from whom she had bought fruit, flowers and confectionery, and by two constables who had arrested her. "Gentlemen, 1 wish to say that I never stole the Chinaman's money; he gave it to me," said accused, addressing the jury from_ the dock. She detailed a conversation between them, and said they had drunk two bottles of Chinese whisky. She honestly believed the money was hers and that she had a right to spend it. Submission to Jury Mr. McCarthy submitted that Lee Jung's evidence' was uncorroborated, and that the accused's story was more probable than his. His Honor said they might think that the money was taken from the complainant in such circumstances as to make it theft. Was there any ground, he asked, for disbelieving the man's statement that the money was never intended to bo given by him to the accused? Would any honest person attempt to destroy a large sum of money as the police had described? The jury found accused not guilty of theft from the person, but guilty of theft, and she was remanded for sentence.