AN OLD-TIME CRIME.

NZ Truth, Issue 103, 8 June 1907, Page 5

AN OLD-TIME CRIME.

THE LAW'S LONG ARM.

Brought to Book After 6 Years.

The long arm of the law reached out from Wellington recently, and, groping about Auckland, graiblbed a man named Thomas Teece, who has been appearing- to the world at large as James o'Oonnor. The arm and the fist of the Law had been furtive-' ly reaching out for six years m search of Teece, and that individual was considerably astonishied when ho felt the unpleasant igrip.; It was the old tale of two persons with cash from the country and the cashless wasters who coveted the coin. But perhaps one of the victims had better tell bis own tale, as he did at Wellington Polioo Court on Friday.; Arthur Edward Doughty, who is a timber yard hand, at Booth's mill, Oartertion, said he .came to Wellington from Muster-ton on Christmas Eve, 1901, Mrs White kept the Mas-; onic Hotel m those days, and a mate, named Raymond accompanied him to th« hostelry. Raymond cashed a £10 note m the bar. Dtoughity was €5011115 to break* another tenner, but the barmaid didn't have . change, and' the m-an from the country put th© flimsy back in/to his trouser pocket. A man named Thomas Reardon and two others were m the bar at the time. He had a doubt whether Teece was one of the men present-; it was a long time ago. The note was 1 changed shortly after 1 o'clock, and the temporarily wealthy visitors dropiped across to the Nag's Head, Which is now the Al'ham'bira. They visited the urinal, and Reardon and his two mates mobibed Douglity. One of the men rushed at the victim and WRESTLED WITH HIM a>nd the others closed m,, one. using foul language. On© man put his hand into Doujgjhty's trouser ' pocket and took; the £10 note and 18s- m silver. A couple of pounds m a hip pocket were overlooked. .Raymond came to the rescue, but was pushed aside. Doughty seized one of the footpads, but another, knocked him down, and the men,' got. away. J. A. Raymond, the other man from the country, corroborated. He identified Teece. Thomas' Bloom, who happened to be m the- yard, was'; an essential witness, as foe saw: Teece kick Doughty m the stomaclj, while Reardon went through him. 'Tec Broberg arrested Reardon on the same night, but Teece disappeared, amd provided work for the long arm, whioh has already been mentioned. Asked how he would plead, Teece glowered at thf fitnesses near-by. and said, after what those blankety blanks had told the Court he had better plead guilty. Accused was then committed for sentence, after casting further reflections on two witnesses, and especially upon '-'Bill," whoever he may be.