Snatched £40

NZ Truth, Issue 1031, 29 August 1925, Page 8

Snatched £40

THREE-YEAR-OLD GRAB

It was at a public bar m Palmerston North on September 1, 1922, that John Skene (aged 37), laborer, of. Dunedin, snatched from Robert Zaloum the sum of- £40, consisting of two twenties. He ran, and came not back. ' With Skene occupying the dock m the Palmerston North . Magistrate's Court, . Zaloum told the story of the theft. He said he placed the money on the;bar 'counter, but a hand came over his shoulder, a*nd the notes were no longer on 1 the counter. Witness did not -chase him, because the barmaid expressed the opinion that he Had done it for a joke, and would be back again. Mr. Tremaine (who appeared for accused); Were you not known as the j two -up king? — No, I certainly was not. '■■■•-.. DetectiveTSergeant Quirke ,here interjected, • and after the exchange of a few words counsel did not press the matter. Frank Rhodes, , boardinghouse■keeper, of Wanganui, deposed to having witnessed the- incident. To Mr. Tremaine, he said he did not see Zaloum playing "put and take." Detective-Sergeant Quirke; It is not a fair thing to say the man was gambling. ■ After a further exchange of words, counsel again subsided. After consulting with him, accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. ' There, having 1 no previous convictions, he was placed on probation for one year, on condition that restitution is made. '