DRAKE'S DIBS.

NZ Truth, Issue 111, 3 August 1907, Page 6

DRAKE'S DIBS.

A Christchurch Hashery Incident.

This is the story of how a joker from the country got taken down for all his oof at a not over fashionable boarding-house m Cbristohurch city. Anthony Thomas Drake is a cook and baker, and blew m from Kurow iwitli thirty-six notes m his kick. Of this he spent £19, and still had a good jhank when he went to bed at Mrs Knight's show m St.. Asaphstreet one night. Next morning he discovered that some nefarious person had explored his pants' pockets and extracted the money, £17, and also got away with a scarf pin which he had laid on the dressingtable; He didn't put his gonee under his pillow on retiring, but carefully hung 'his pants on the door, which he was unable to lock. Another man slept m the same room as Drake, but he wasn't suspected of the robbery, the 'tecs, arresting a criminal named John Goram on the charge. Goram denied it at Court. The prosecutor said that before toe got 'up on the morning he missed his money he saw Goram standing at his. bedroom door. Goram spoke to -him, asking him to have a nip. The room- mate was present at the 'time. Didn't know- whether the accused visited the room during 'the night, but .someone certainly came alonar and knocked, and the room mate called out that he would hit him if he didn't clear out. He couldn't say who it was.

Selina Parker gave some peculiar evidence. She hangs out at No. 5, George-street, but on this night she slept at Mrs Knight's bioarding-house and w&n-t to bed m the same room with a married couple. Whether the prisoner Goram slept m the same room also SeMna ■didn't say, and she wasn't (questioned on the point. However, her admission, shows that they are not too dashed particular m some of the Christchurch ha&h factories. On the following morning she rose from bar downy couch a little after six o'clock, but she didn't leave, staying m the house until five hours after, when THE 'T,EC!S ARRESTED GORAM. Accused went out a little after six a.m., saying that he was going to the hotel. He remained away about half an -hour, and brought back both whisky and beer. She went to her bedroom, and Drake called m there and told her he had lost bis money (about £17) and a scarf-pin. Accused was present, and l»a asked him if lvc knew any lining about it, receiving a reply n the negative. Selina next said that she saw the pin m Goram's coat, hidden under his collar, and when she took it he said he had never seen it before. Goram gave her a couple of bob after he returned from the pub. Drake had said, m mentioning his loss, that where the pin was the money was too.

Mrs Annie Garrett. cook at the boarding-house, said Goram came into the kiichen early m the morning haying m his possession a bottle of .whisky «ml a butUo of beer. Ho askcil

for breakfast for himself and his "wife," and sho brought it upstairs to him. He drew out some silver and some notes and paid for the meals.

Arthur Garrett, laborer, and husband of the last witness, said foe stayed at Knight's boarding-shop. He worked witili the accused, and on the morning m question he gave witness a sprat togo and get a nip. He bad notes and silver m his fist, but witness couldin'-t say how -muph..

'Tec H. Kennedy said he was with 'Tec. CornieH when they came across Goram m St. Asaph-street. They searched him, but only found a few shillings on Mm. Goram . said that when he came out of nick (meaning gaol) he had no money, but his mother sent him a railway ticket to take him to Dunedin. They left him m the street, and he went m the direction of the stat on to catch the second express. They went along to the house where the robbery happenedi, and after a while went to the room upstairs. There they were astonished to see his nibs Goram lying on a food. He 'had come m the back, way. Witness and Connell searched the place, and they were talking the matter over whdn SELINA PARKER CAME ALONG, and gave him the missing scarf-pin, saying that she toad got it from Goram, having taken it from his coat collar. Goram admitted this on being questioned, and they thereupon took him along to the police station. Goram was with a criminal named Faithful when they first accosted him m St. Asaph-street. Didn't I have time to get away from the time you saw me first until you arrested me ? asked prisoner. Oh, yes, but men of your class wouldn't -eet very -far away, from us.. But I could get away ? Oh, Trp s, temporarily. Was I sober ? No, you were under the influence of liquor. In answer to Magistrate Bishop, the witness said accused did no work : this yea r he had been five months m gaol. 'Tec. John Connell corroborated Kennedy's evidence, and said that Goram denied having had any notes m his possession as stated by the previous witnesses. His mother had sewt him a railway ticket from Dunedin, but ho didn't use it. Goram, who had nothing to say. was sent, to the Supreme Court for trial.,