A MISSING RING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17235, 15 April 1930, Page 6

A MISSING RING

YOUNG MAN CHARGED THEFT AND FORGERY Two"'charges of a somewhat serious .nature were preferred in tire I‘olice Court tiiis morning before .Messrs, if. C. Leggett aiid I). D. Mutton, J’s.P., against Cordon Williams, 22. Tlie accused was charged with the theft on April 1 of a diamond ring valued at £oo, the property of Mrs. Frances Quinn, and with making a false document on December 31 by forging tlie name ot H. Forman to a promissory note lor £l4. Dealing with the first charge, Detective McLeod explained that the accused went to the complainant’s house with her son on April 1, and remained until 2.30 p.m. Mrs. Quinn was out at the back of the house, and in the evening she found that the ring was missing from a jewel case on the dressing table in her bedroom, which opened / out of the room in which the accused had been. Later witness recovered the ring from a Mr. Bardwell, from whom the accused had borrowed £2, stating that he needed the money to pay the interest on a sum he had borrowed. Witness arrested the accused, who at first 'denied having stolen the ring,' but later admitted the theft, and stated that he had given it to Mr. Bardwell as security for the loan. Mrs. Frances Quinn stated that she had known the accused almost since his childhood, and ho and her son had been friends for a considerable time. Until April 1 he occasionally visited her house with her son. On April 1 he came to the house at about 10 a.m., and went away for lunch, returning about 1.30 p.m. Witness’ son was at home, and the two boys remained in the house while witness was outside washing. Her son was preparing to go to town, and the accused was playing tlie gramophone. She had left her rings in a jewel case on the dressing table in her room, and amongst them was a- three stone diamond ring (produced). At about 2.30 p.m. the two boys went to town, and between 5 and 6 p.m. witness found that the ring was missing. She valued it at- about £SO. To Mr. Wauchop, witness said the boy had no parents, and his father, who had been separated from his mother, was killed at the war. His mother died last year. For some time he had been out. of employment. Samuel Bardwell deposed that lie had known -the accused for eight or nine years, and stated that he called at witness’ shop on the night. <sf April 1, and asked for a loan of £2 on a diamond ring, stating that he wanted the £2 to pay interest on a loan. Witness gave him the £2, and took the ring as secur ity. He said the ring belonged to his young lady. Cross-examined by Mr. Wauchop, witness said Williams came back the next day, and wanted to uplift the ring, and leave a watch instead. He said he would come in the afternoon, and clear the whole thing up, and witness said that if that were the case it was not worth while making the exchange. Detective McLeod stated in evidence that on April 2 he arrested the accused on (his charge. Williams said: “I knownothing about a diamond ring; I have never stolen one.” Witness then showed him the ring produced, and told him he had recovered it from Mr. Bardwell. Williams then admitted having stolen it, and having received £2 from Mr. Bardwell on it. The accused pleaded ’guilty and was committed to the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Gisborne for sentence.' (Proceeding.) I