BARGAINS IN BAR

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 5

BARGAINS IN BAR

The Clock That Went To^'Uncle"

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) "If ft is true, as the prosecution suggests, that I. stole these goods,, it does not say much for my past services as an ex-mas\er tailor of the Indian Government, where I was -used to controlling from two and a-half to three million pounds' worth of Government stores daily. At the same time I have had control.of a thousand tailors — more or. less." ' JF his story is to be -believed, William ■*■ Bradshaw once held a very important Government post m India. Last week, m the Auckland Police Court, he was charged with breaking and entering and stealing two clocks, two vases, and a small souvenir of the Dunedin Exhibition from the dwelling of Emily Cecelia Ryan, m Nixon Street, Grey Lynn. The evidence against the ex- '_■ Indian tailor made this somewhat difficult for him. His landlady, Elsie Jacksdn (who also answers to the names of Eva or Kate) had seen the articles (produced m Court) m Bradshaw's room. . He told her that they had been given to him by a man who was leaving for Australia, so she said. Three Goiden Balls ». Harry Louis N Solomon, whose sign — three gold balls — denoted his calling, said that William had pawned the larger of .the two clocks (an imitation marble timepiece) for 10/-. ■ .-;■ - A man with a Lancashire accent had asked William Brierly, an aged neighbor, where a man ; named Nell ll^ed, and the last Brierly saw of him was on the verandah of Miss Ryan's house. Bradshaw admitted coming from the vicinity .of Manchester, and m his statement on oath from the witnessbox, delivered the oration quoted above. Continuing he said^"! bought the articles > from" a man m the -' . Hotel, Karahgahape, Road. "There were 40 or ; 50 men m the-bar at the time. I purchased them for 22/6. ' '■'-:■ "As soon as this becomes, known through, the medium of the daiiy press there will . be 'bound to be some . people m Auckland who will recollect the sale of these* goods." Whether the memories of those 40 or 50 bar supporters will justify William's hopes, remains to be seen. In th© meantime Bradshaw has been committed to the Supreme Court for trial...' ■.:. . ; ; T| ''