BANK NOTE’S MESSAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17179, 8 February 1930, Page 8

BANK NOTE’S MESSAGE

NEW YEAR’S EVE THEFT VISITING SHOWMAN FINED £5 “.•Good-bye; Clod bless you. ” But for that inscription on the brick of a five-pound note the detection of the thief who stole the note from the pocket of a sleeping fellow hoarder in, a local hotel would probably have proved a difficult matter. In the Police Court yesterday afternoon, however, Edward Mount-ford Tunnicliffc, a visiting showman, appeared before Mr. P. 11. Harper, S.M., and denied having stolen on New Year's Eve £5 in money, the properly of Leonard Lord. A conviction Avas entered, and the accused was lined £;“» and costs, and was ordered In make restitution, in default one month’s imprisonment. Detective McLeod prosecuted, and Mr. ,S. V. Boaufoy appeared for Ihe accused, who, upon being given his election, chose to lie dealt with bv the magistrate, and pleaded not guilty. Before Tuhnicliffe was given the choice, Detective McLeod, in evidence as to his antecedents, stated that lie had twice previously been convicted of dishonesty. It was a case which tire magistrate might deal with. The facts, as outlined by the detective, were that the complainant was a boarder at the Royal Hotel from December .10 to January 2, and the accused was also staying at the hot (4 at the same time, occupying the adjoining room. At about midnight on New Year’s Eve the complainant went to ids foom more or less under the influence of liquor, and lay down on the bed and went to sleep. Baler he woke up to Had a man wearing a blue blazer with white facings standing over'him, and noticing flint lie was awake, the intruder an id. “Andy (the barman) sent mo up to tell you to go to lled.” He then went out of the room. (Shortly afterwards Lord discovered that his wallet, containing a £5 note, was missing from his pocket. The note was on'c which he eonhl identify positively, for it bore the inscription “Good-bye; 'God bless, you ”• on the back. On Saturday, January 4, the accused cashed a £•"> note in the bar of the hotel, and the barman, observing that it was the note which had been stolen, later handed it over to the speaker. On January MO lie arrested the accused, who denied having stolen the note from Lord, but admitted that he had cashed a note with the barman. During the time the accused visited Gisborne for the carnival season he was wearing a blue blazer with white facings. Confirmatory evidence was given by the complainant, two barmen at the Royal Hotel, and Detective McLeod. Mr. .Boaufoy pointed out that there was no evidence that the accused was the, only man in the hotel who was wearing a blazer as described by the witnesses, and he submitted that Tunnicliifc could not be convicted on the evidence of a man who had been under the influence of liquor.. The note might have been lost by Lord, and in any case the identification of the note was not satisfactory .

.After hearing the accused’s story of his movements op (New Year’s Eve, the magistrate said ihe had -no rerason to doubt t’ne witnesses for the prosecution. The evidence was most circumstantial, but it was none the less clear. The accused would lie convicted and fined £5 and costs, and would he •ordered to make restitution, flic total being £.12 ,15s, in default one month’s imprisonment. T.unnieliffe was allowed a week in which to pay the amount.