HINDU AFFAIR

NZ Truth, Issue 1104, 27 January 1927, Page 4

HINDU AFFAIR

Khana Complains Of Lost Cash

(From "N.Z. -"truth's" Special Auckland Rep.) "He was a little bit .sober, but hot very much," was how a Hindu interpreter translated Mama Khan's answer to a question, put 'by "Counsel J. F. W. Dickson m the Auckland Police Court concerning Khana's sobriety on New Year's night, when George Bottles, the dark-skinned young man of 22 who stood m the dock, was alleged to have taken £7 out of his wallet. NEITHER the Court , nor the. interpreter appeared to have a very clear idea of what Mama was trying to say. Both Hindus spoke volume's to each other at every question, but the resulting: English did. not throw much light on what actually did happen m the house m Grey Street where the theft was supposed to have taken place. As far* as could be gathered from the Hindus' combined efforts, Bottles had pulled Mama out of a room where there was a party, in progress. Bottles then was said to have taken a "leather box" (a wallet) out of Mama's breast pocket, opened it, and then put it back ih its rightful restingplace. Its owner hadn't looked then to see' if his £7 was still there, but he missed it when he went to bed , at about 2 a.m. . At each question from counsel, the interpreter! seemed to. get more tied up, until at last Magistrate Hunt ordered the case to be stood over until the following morning. •When the case reope~hed, counsel wanted it to go on from the point where it had been discontinued the day before; The' S.M. decided to rehear it from the beginning, however, but counsel's objection was recorded. It: was shown m evidence that when Detective, Knight arrested .Bottles about 11 o'clock next morning, he was m bed, and there was £4 1s 6d lying ' .on ' his dressing-table. ■ , "Ledia Louther, the landlady, to whom: Bottles owed -.a small amount, told the Court that Bottles' wife had reminded him of; the fact that night.' He had said , that he had no small change, and went on to say: something about, only have "a fiver" on him. .''l submit that there is riot a tittle of evidence on which a jury would be justified m convicting my client," said Counsel Dickson, "i submit that therehas never been a weaker case before the Court." ..-.• \Vy. The bench thought otherwise, however, and m spite of counsel's arguments, 'committed Bottles, who pleaded not guilty and • reserved his i defence, to the Supreme Court for 'trial.