A PARK PARTY

NZ Truth, Issue 1017, 23 May 1925, Page 6

A PARK PARTY

Conviviality of a Mixed Foursome Woman Charged with Theft. "In fact, sir, she didn't even leave me the two half -pennies to go home on the tram with. Shes a beaut. She cleaned me right out."— A complainant m the Wellington Magistrate's Court. The case was that m which a young woman, Delia Hazel Gorrie, was charged with having stolen, a. watch and chain, valued at £15, and alternatively with receiving the chain, the property of one James Frederick Linley. , ' Chief Detective Kemp appeared for the prosecution and Lawyer N. A. Foden handled the affairs of accused, who was attired m a brown fur coat and stylish toque hat Linley said that m Molesworth Street on May 6 last he was talking to a chap named O 'Regan when two women came along- "I know the ladies," said O'Regan. "Don't go away and I will introduce you." Witness liked the look of the newcomers and stayed for a while, and when he said he would have, to be getting along, the accused, Gorrie, said, "We will go with you." The lady won, arid later when someone suggested a bottle of whisky, accused said, "Let's go to Queen's Park and pass an hour away." Linley had an hour to spare and didn't want time to drag, so he fell m with the> suggestion. Four o'clock, it was when accused sat close to witness oh a seat m the park, the other pair having adjourned to a nice little nook about te,n yards away. "■ "Care about a spot, old sport?" was the question' witness said Gorrie put to him as she appeared to take a good pull at the bottle herself. "I don't mind if I do," said witness. "Well," he continued, .."after she had had a go at it I had a stimulant — a pick-me-up, see? But no sooner had I taken it than I felt a bit queer, see, sort of drowsy, and I had , to put my hands on my head. She said, 'Are you feeling bad, old thing?' arid at the same time started feeling all over my chest, you know, and then she fanned me " The Chief Detective: Fanned you? Witness: "Yes, she was fanning me, to keep me cool, I suppose." (Laughter.) "Then I suddenly woke up," put m Linley simply, while the girl m the box smiled blandly, "and I felt for my watch and chain but couldn't find it. Gorrie made a dart and I saw' her putting the watch and chain into her bag. Hey, give me my issue, I said — : — " Lawyer Foden: What did you mean by "issue"? . Witness: .The "issue" meant the watch and chain, not the money she got otherwise. "Did you miss anything else?" asked the chief detective. : "Yes, twenty-seven and twopence." (Laughter.) Witness added that he had had a pound note m a purse m his inside pocket, frorri which he had been showing , his companion! some photographs. The pound had disappeared and also a sum of 7s 2d which ■had been m his waistcoat pocket. "She cleaned me right out and didn't even leave me the two halfpennies to go home' m the tram with." ALONE— FORGOTTEN.' However, he still asserted his rights. He didn't catch her, but got near enough to say, "Here, give me my issue." -.'■ '.' .•■•• ■ : ■ . "I haven't got it," said the woman, and with that Lmley made a dart to snatch the bag, but Gorrie threw up her arms and his hat was either knocked or fell off m the process and tumbled down a bank. "I went down to get my hat," said witness, "but she flew." He then "looked round for O'Regan and his companion, but they had disappeared. ■;.-..: ''Left alone?" suggested the chief detective. "And forgotten," put m the witness dolefully, "and not even my car fare on me. I was stiff, I tell / you." (Laughter.) He reported the matter to the police. • ■'•<•• The two were destined to meet again, however, and this on the following day, by chance, oii the premises of the Thistle Inn. "Here, what have you done with my watch and chain?" asked witness, arid received the reply! "I've got it; I'll get it for you." Witness dealt at length with the precise dialogue that took place, and m the course of which it was alleged that Gorrie had said to him that .she had pawned the chain at Smart's but had torn the ticket up. They, .eventually went to the pawnshop and explained that the ticket- had been destroyed, and the lady signed a declaration, using the name "Thompson." Witness recovered the chain the next day, but the watch he had never seen since. "I THOUGHT SHE WAS A LADY." The Chief Detective (to witness) : What was your condition when you went into the park? — I didn't know Gorrie from a bar of soap. (Laughter.) Were you drunk?-^— l went up there because I thought she was a lady and I >vas a gentleman — (laughter)— and I may', say I acted . accordingly. (Laughter.) She just said, "Have a drink, old sport," and I said, "All right." She asked no questions and •neither did I. (Laughter.) .It might have been all right twenty years ago, but to-day, well, ask yourself. (Prolonged laughter.) Mr. Foden (to witness) : How many ch-inks did you have that afternoon? — Let me sec, I had a little I think after I left tho Supreme Court. 1 had been paid for being on a jury. (This amused those m court immensely.) >What time did you leave? — Somewhere about 3 o'clock, and I went to the Metropolitan. "NOURISHMENT" BY THE ROUND. Did you have, any drinks?— Well, I had a little, nourishment. (Laughter.) Well, how many rounds of "nourishment" did you have?— Onb> three. .Did you go straight to the park from tho hotel? — No, we went through Molesworth Street, Tinakori Road and then to tho reserve. AVere you alone with tho other woman at. any time?— No. 1 was not with tho other woman or tho other man; Gorrio and I snt .together on the seat. Dltl you not mnko nn improper suggestion to the accused? — No, I always conduct myself u,s a. gentleman. I thought she was n. lady. ;' ' Oh', did you? Diet you have any more drink at tho park?— Well, they had a cocktail— l think they called It. T hud a pull at It, and It. must have boon a cocktail because it soon cocked mo, anyhow. (Loud. laughter.) Well, what happenod then?— lt was good-hyo. McGlnnos. (Laughter.). You know It is not easy to get. that chain out. of your vest, is it?— Oh, no, only a shame. 1. felt the chain being tugged, but. thought she was only, looking- at": the time, like, see? But she was timing it pretty well. ■Then your hat fell. .off. You went for that first, didn't you?— Yes, ] dived over the bank for, my hat. I. thought I might catch cold without it. 1 had to got,-ihat. ( * " Did you, make any offer to withdraw the information? — I did at first, but. nothing turned up and I got sick of it. . . ■■ • • ■ .

Do you remember it being- said that the watch and chain were given to this other woman Stewart by you?— No, I don't. Detective Walker said that when he interviewed Gorrie she said . she had been given the chain, by the other woman to pawn, the other woman having received it from Liinley as payment, for, her Intimacy with him. Lawyer Fodcn asked that the case be dismissed.-, as not being a propar

one to so to the Supreme Court. There had apparently been a ' good deal of drink about, and the whole conduct of the party showed that it was. a. convivial 'party and- that the state of mind .of the actors m the various scenes ' was ' such as to indicate that they 'did not know what they were doing, i The Court took the view that the case should go higher, and.Gorrie, who pleaded not guilty, was committed' to the Supreme Court for trial.