£l0 MISSING

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11046, 1 November 1921, Page 3

£lo MISSING

ROBBERY CHARGE FAILS COUNTRYMAN’S EXPERIENCE IN. THE CITY. SHIP’S FIREMAN ACQUITTED. A 6tory of liow a- working uuu: came down from the 90untry, and, after treating a number of strangers to drinks, lost two fire-pound notes, was told in the Supreme Court yesterday, before Mr Justice Hosking. Harold Andrews, ship’s fireman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having robbed Alexander Duggan, labourer, of the sum of £lO, and of assaulting him at the same time. His Honour: Have you engaged a lawyer to defend you ? The prisoner scratched his head. “I forgit his name, sir,” he said. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr P. S. K. Maeassey) endeavoured to jog his memory by reciting the names of several members of the Bar, wjth criminal practice in Wellington. The prisoner: “It’s a name like Haber dasher, sir.” His Honour: “Is it Mr Mazengarh?” “That’s the name,” answered the prisoner, amid laughter. • Mr O. O. Mazengarb entered the court and said he appeared for the prisoner. > HAD SEVERAL DRINKS. Alexander Duggan, a man about 55 rears of age, gave evidence that he had been working op a station thirty miles put of Carterton. He came to Wellington with about £l6, which he Sferried in his hip pocket. Witness went to a hotel, and was a couple of hours in the bar when the prisoner and three friends came in. Witness paid for several drinks. They .then went to another hotel, and had another round. Witness went, to the shipping office to get his ticket for Lytteltpn, but the office was closed. They came back to the first hotel. Then they went to the ferry wharf. “I don’t know much about it,” said ■the witness/ when asked to indicate the locality, near the wharf, where he said prisoner assaulted him. He called to some men, and they ran after prisoner. Witness reported his loss to the police, and went to prisoner’s ship, the Waimana, in company with Detective lYioklobank. He was not there, but witness picked him out of an “identification parade’’ on the vessel next morning. He was certain prisoner tripped him up and took two £5 notes. “I have no home,” added witness, in answer to counsel for the defence. ‘‘l was going to the South Island, to. see if I could better myself.” Detective Tricklehank also gave evidence. THE PRISONER’S EVIDENCE. In his evidence the prisoner admitted having been in Duggan’s company at different hotels, which they left because it was closing time. He denied the charge. He was not aware that Duggan had any morfey other than that whim he' spent in the, hotels. He had returned to the ship that evening, but he could not understand how the detective had not found him while searching the men’s quarters. The jury retired shortly after 3 p.m. and returned at 4.3 Q p.m. with a verdict of not guilty. Prisoner was discharged.