POLICE COURT

Southland Times, Issue 22486, 22 January 1935, Page 7

POLICE COURT

ALLEGED THEFT ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday morning James Anglem Te Au, alias Hunter James Hope, 37 years of age, of Colac, was charged with stealing £3, the property of Matilda Shurroch from the Globe Hotel, Riverton, on January 5. On a charge of breaking and entering by day and theft no evidence was offered and it was withdrawn. Charged with assaulting Constable Fraser in the execution of his duty, accused, who appeared on remand pleaded guilty. Mr Gordon Reed represented accused. Detective R. Thompson conducted the

case for the police. Matilda Shurroch, a widow, residing at the Globe Hotel, Riverton, stated that the window of her bedroom on the ground floor overlooked the backyard and was a short distance from the back door. On January 5 she had been out and returned about 5.30 p.m. She went tc her bedroom and put her purse on the bed. The purse could be seen from the window. She left the room and came back about five minutes later when she saw the bag in the act of coming through the window. She heard footsteps coming into the passage from the back door. ■ When she opened the bag she found about £3 was missing. She saw accused in the passage and asked if he had taken the money. He stated that he had not, Mrs McKay then came upon the scene and told witness to go for Constable Fraser. The little bag (produced) was in the purse when she left it in the bedroom. Amy McKay, the wife of Scobie Donald McKay, the proprietor of the hotel, said Mrs Shurroch came to her and said the money had been taken out of her bag. Accused was then coming along the passage. She told Mrs Shurroch to go for Constable Fraser. Witness held on to accused until assistance came and felt something in his hand. Accused was then pushed into Mrs Shurroch’s room and something dropped from his hand. Mrs Shurroch later picked up the purse in her room, but witness was satisfied that it was the object accused had in his hand. Harriet Elizabeth Valentine, a married woman of Riverton, said that on the afternoon in question she was one of a party of which accused was a member in a motor car. Accused suggested procuring some beer and the car was stopped in the right-of-way. Accused then went towards the rear of the hotel. Witness and another member of the party went into the hotel and two others stayed in the car. Witness was talking to Mrs McKay when a lady called out that she had lost some money and everyone then went to the rear of the hotel. Alexander Scobie McKay, barman at the Globe Hotel and a son of the licensee, said he did not know the accused. He was about the bar on January 5 and the only time he saw accused was when he was being taken away by Constable Fraser. Constable William Fraser stated that at 5.55 p.m. on January 5 he was called to the Globe Hotel. When he arrived he was shown to a bedroom at the rear of the hotel when he saw accused with several others, including Mrs Shurroch. Mrs Shurroch informed him that her -bag had been taken from her bed and two single notes and a pound in silver stolen. Witness interviewed the accused and searched him and found 1/6 in his possession. While he was interviewing accused in his office the complainant handed witness a purse and stated that the purse was in her handbag before the money was stolen. The accused denied taking the money and denied having seen the purse before. Accused pleaded not guilty and. was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. On the second charge accused was remanded for sentence until March 4.