WHOSE HAND?

NZ Truth, Issue 1062, 1 April 1926, Page 8

WHOSE HAND?

TRAIN MYSTERY Circus Girl Robbed (From "Truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) When she stepped off the special train whioh brought Wirth's circus from Whangarei to Auckland, ' Golda Honey had £50 m her handbag. Two minutes later Golda was minus £46 of that amount. Golda is one of the troupe of acrobats attached to the circus. When the party travelled down from Whangarei they had a specially reserved compartment. On reaching Auckland the railway authorities put on a hustle to clear the station and all baggage was pushed out on to the platform without delay. Golda 'said that she dashed into the toilet room of the compartment to put her hat on at the requisite angle, and momentarily laid her black handbag on the luggage on the platform. When she returned two minutes afterwards the bag was missing. It contained £46 m notes and £4 m silver. Some time later the bag was recovered, but it was minus the £46. The rest of the' money was left untouched. The only person who was helping the Honeys with their baggage was a man they knew as Cunningham, and' he was the only man at the spot at the time. Cunningham, however, is the "stage" name of the employee referred to. In the records of .the police he is John Mahutu Parker, who, curiously enough, is wanted by the law m connection with one or two other small matters. \ When he gave evidence Parker said that he joined the circus at Waimats, South Canterbury. He had not handled the missing money and kneiv nothing about it. ') < .Mr. Cummings: Why did you change your name when you went with the circus? — Oh, I just changed it. Was it not because you were wanted on warrant? — I suppose it might have been. ' - . You are wanted on other charges now 7 — I believe so. . ' The S.M.: I can't see sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction m this caseParker then pleaded guilty to having stolen £15 at Timaru and an overcoat (value £5) at Wellington. He will be dealt with on these charges m due course.