PICKPOCKET’S DISCOMFITURE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7049, 10 February 1910, Page 9

PICKPOCKET’S DISCOMFITURE

PASSES ON STOLEN COINS. PLEADS GUILTY WHEN HE HEARS EVIDENCE. Caught red-handed on Friday night 1 picking the pocket of a Theatre Royal paSran, Poter McMoster, alias Patrick : . Frank Well, alias Patrick McMahon. ■ adopted am' expedient that proved rather an unfortunate one for him; ' He transferred 1 the ooinß ho had oh- : stracted to , tlhe nearest receptacle. • This happened to ho the boat pocket oB ; Mir Ben Fuller. Pickpocket and coins were promptly transferred to the keep- > ling of a policeman. The amount ‘stolen was 12s 6d and its rightful owner was an elderly man, George Cooper. McMaster appeared before Mr W. G. Hiddell, S.M., yesterday to : nnhwer to tho charge. He was do- - fended hy Mr O’Rjogan and pleaded not guilty. _ . ■ ■■ Cooper’s evidence was to tho effect : that when entering tho theatre with o crowd of early door patrons he felt .'( his hip trouser pocket boing rifled. Ho . grabbed accused's hand while it was ’ still under witness’s coat. On feeling '■> in his pocket ho found that ho. had been robbed. Accused then offered witness half a sovereign. Witness re- . ported tho occurrence to Mr lien Fuller, who mas close hy and who drew them aside and then remarked,’ “He has dropped the‘ money into,' niyi pocket.” ■ .• Benjamin J; Fuller, theatre lessee, deposed to having felt what proved to bo 11s 6d in silver dropped into his , pocket when ho drew accused ahd the previous witness aside. Mr O'Regan said ho did not propose to call any evidence. Accused would plead guilty and counsel hoped matters- ii ; mig&fc bo so expedited as to permit .of is his case being , taken during the present Supreme Court sessions. : '' l Accused was committed to the Sup- ", reme Coxinfc for sentence. Bail wa* allowed.