CHARGE FAILS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8330, 16 January 1913, Page 2

CHARGE FAILS

ALLEGED THEFT OF MONEY. John Bead, a young man, was charged before Dr A. McArthur, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday with having on January 14th stolen £6 in money, the property of Mary Spencer. Sub-Inspector Sheehan prosecuted and Mr T. Young appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mary Spencer, boardinghouse keeper, Kent terrace, said that about 3 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon the accused, somewhat under tho influence of liquor, came to her house in company with another man. Ho introduced himself as Mr Bead, and as he wanted to rest, witness told him he could go and lie down. Witness left tho house, and when she returned, after 6 o’clock, ac cused was still lying down. _ Witness had with her her bag, in which there was a sum of about £G. She put the bag in a box in the same room as that in which the accused was lying. About 7 p.m. accused and his companion left tho house. About 7.20 witness went to her bag and found that tho money was missing. The accused came back to the house and witness charged him with having taken the money. He denied it, but offered witness £5, asking her: “Will you take that and bo quiet?” Witness refused, and soon after the police arrived, and witness told them the accused had taken, her money. Accused denied it. To Mr Young: Accused had no beer in witness’s premises except that which he brought himself. There were four other men in the house at that time. Winnie Spencer, daughter of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. John Sliivnan. who was in company with the accused, said accused did not move from the bed while the bag was in the. room In the morning, before going to the house, accused had a considerable amount of money on him. Hie Worship held that the evidence was not sufficient to convict and dismissed the information.