THEFT OF £22

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23573, 6 February 1940, Page 9

THEFT OF £22

INCIDENT IN HOTEL LABOURER FOUND GUILTY [BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Monday After a retirement of 10 minutes in the Supreme Court, a jury found Richard Sullivan, labourer, aged 36, guilty of theft from the person. He was remanded for sentence. The Crown prosecutor, Mr. Cunningham, said a man named Richard Sexton was drinking in the bar of an hotel on New Year's Day with some friends, among whom was a stoker of H.M.S. Ramillies. Sexton was seen to draw a roll of notes from his pocket and later ho went out. Sullivan followed and was seen to put his hand in Sexton's pockets. Ho left the hotel, and when accosted .by the stoker and another, ran away. When caught, Sullivan handed £ll to the stoker, who had given chase. The stoker said there should have been a larger sum and invited accused to accompany him in a motor-car to the police station. On the way accused was detected hiding another roll of notes behind a seat in the car. This was found to bo £ll, the two rolls corresponding to the amount stolon, £22.

Mr. Justice Ostler told the jury the crime of theft- was complete when the thief moved property with intent to steal. Jt did not make it any the less theft' if tho property was later recovered.