A DALMATIAN BRAVO

NZ Truth, Issue 978, 23 August 1924, Page 8

A DALMATIAN BRAVO

Gets Three Years Gaol

Eloquent Prisoner.

They breed men of eloquence m Dalmatia. When Ralpho Antonoyitch was convicted m the Wellington Supreme Court this week on a charge of receiving stolen goods, the property of Messrs George and George's drapery establishment m Newtown and sentenced to three years' imprisonment he defended himself with considerable ability. Frequently he pulled up the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Macassey, m the- course of his cross-examination of Blackey, a weedy-looking youth, now m gaol, who stole goods from his employers, Messrs George and George, and sold them to the eloquent Dalmatian. Leaning over the edge of the dock, his rubicund face tense with emotion, Antonovitch frequently cried: "I object to the Crown Prosecutor's questions. He must not lead." And the Judge, Mr. Justice Salmond, smiled as he courteously informed the Crown Prosecutor that he "must observe the rules of the game." In many ways the case was a memorable, one. Blackey admitted m thl witness, box that he stole goods, worth a considerable sum, from his employers and .re-sold them to Antonovitch. On at least one occasion the Dalmatian did not even pay for the stolen clothing. He simply took it away. Very obliging of Blackey, of course, but still a little difficult to understand. And Antonovftch fiercely denied that he Knew that the clothing, a collection of coats and underwear, was stolen. He rattled off questions at the unfortunate Blackey, m an assorted mixture of English and Dalmatian, trying to elicit from the youth that he, Antonovitch, which m plain English means Smith, wns entirely innocent of the knowledge that the. goods were stolen. Blackey, however, contented himself into stating calmly that Antonovitch knew "all along"- whence the goods came. "You want to take my li-ber-ty away from me," observed the Dalmatian m shrill tones when Blackey repeated the statement with a slight smile oh his lips. . The most dramatic moment came when the accused was Invited to address the jury. Previously he Refused to give evidence m the witness box, and his address was mainly m connection with this modest reticence. Thumping the dock with his fist, at which even the tallest constable m the Qburt nearly jumped out of his skin, Mr. Antonovitch observed that he "was not going to give evidence m the witness box, as my learned friend, the Crown Prosecutor, might tear me m pieces, I am terrified of him. How could I stand against such an educated man, earning thousands a year, who might confuse me?" . > >' Something m that, perhaps, Anyhow, the calm i dispassionate summing up of Mr. Justice Salmond came as a relief to the tense atmosphere irt tho Court. "If," said his Honor, "the jury were satisfied that Antonovitch put Blackey up to steal the goods the prisoner would be guilty of theft, just as a man who sent another into a paddock to steal a. horse was as guilty of theft as the actual thief .. The evidence of Blackey was that he had not been put up to steal the goods, and therefore the jury might consider that there was not any real evidence against the man of theft. As to the charge of 'receiving,' the jury could only draw nn inference from the man's general demeanor and attitude as to whether he had acted as dn honest or a dishonest man." After a retirement of 25 minutes the jury found that Antonovitch was guilty of receiving, and the eloquent foreigner attempted to address them again, but was dissuaded by a watchful warder. He, was later sentenced as above. ;