GARDINER'S GONCE.

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

GARDINER'S GONCE.

The Porter and the Cook Pinched.

When an individual banks his cash m his chest of drawers he doesn't gain any interest. Should it excite the cupidity of stray" 'thieves he may lose it altogether. John. Gardiner, a painter at Akaroa, had saved up £29, and let it sleep m a purse m a drawer m the Madiera Hotel., This pubbery is a new one, and when a shaft was being made into it., the porter and bfilliard-marker, Thomas Marsden Burnharh, was assisting to shift a chest 0f drawers. In order to make it lighter, he removed the drawers with one exception, and that was locked. It is ridiculous to lock a drawer if the one above it can be removed, as the contents of the other may then easily be extracted. Marsden pointed that out at the time to Mrs Keppler, wife of the licensee. Just after this Marsden gave notice to leave, and as he had only been there a short time and had no money when ho came, Mrs K. couldn't make it out. He was giving satisfaction m every way. But when Mrs Elizabeth Annie Reid, the cook, cleared off at a moment's notice suspicions were aroused, particularly as Gardiner 'had complained of losing his £29. The police gave a call

AND SEARCHED BURNHAM, but didn't locate the bunce. They they broke' open two boxes that the lady cook had left behind, and therein was found a nice select assortment of articles -belonging to the hotel. They stopped Mrs Reid at Little River, and on her being searched, it was noticed that her muff necklet, or whatever it is called, had white thread runniing through it. Investigation disclosed twenty one-pound notes concealed therein. The woman then said that she had got it from a man who had stolen it, and was keeping it for him. Prior to that she had told the ' constable that she didn't know anything about the robblery, and doubted if Gardiner had that amount of money to lose. After confessing, however, Reid made a statement to the effect that Burnham came into the kitchen to her .with a brown paper parcel m his hand, and- said, "Annie, mind this for me, and I "will give you £5 for doing so when I get to Christchurch. The police may dog me at Little River and at Christchurch, but they can't b Hv,o with me for all they will find on me. I will meet the Little River train at Ohristchurch every day and look for you." So she 'to ok the money. Burnham was not only searched by the police at Akaroa, but when he arrived at Little River also. He told Constable Jones that he only had 275, and most of that would be used to cable Home to his people for money. He could 'get a week's board and lodging from' a friend m Christchurch while awaiting remittances. Jones 1 pressed his quarry as to his knowledge of the robbery at the pub, and he replied :

"GOD STRIKE ME DEAD, 'JONES, I don't know anything about'it ; if I did I would 'tellyou. I don't believe Gardiner had the money to lose. He owes four weeks' "board and other liabilities, and this is his way of trying to get out of paying them." Asked if he thought the servant would grab tbefaunce, he replied that he didn't think so.

Well, Bur-nham reaohe'd Christchurch, where 'Tec. Connell dropped across 'him, and that officer was also beastly inquisitive. In the end he arrested Burnham, who then wrote out a statement of what he knew about the business. He said the woman Reid came into his room a bit "potty," and' showed Mm a black leather 'book, out of which she pulled money, saying, '-'My luck is m ; look what I have found." He didn't know how much money there was m the book, but there was a good deal. He tokl her not to he a fool, but to go and put it back where she got it. Slve replied, "What do you take me for ? I will do nothing of the kind." Being a woman, he (Burnham) didn't like to put. h:er away, and toe said nothing about it. He knew she was coming fb Chris^church shortly. Burnham was remanded -from Christohurch to Akaroa, and on being confronted with his alleged accomplice, the latter said, "This is a nice mess you have got me into. You gave me the money to keep for you on Monday morning." 1 To this 'Burnham replied, "Don't be blackmailing me." Eoth the accused are to stand their trial at Christohuroh this month. In the meantime Mrs Reid is doing a month hard for being found m possession of various articles belonging to the hotel which aren't usually kept m servants' boxes.