IN THE COURTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 87, 7 December 1912, Page 3

IN THE COURTS.

A RACECOURSE INCIDENT

Francis Green, of Onehunga, attended the Ellerslie races in style last month, having with him a pair of field glasses, which were slung round his shoulder in the approved sporting manner. Just prior to the last race ho lost his glasses in a most unusual manner. Ho went on to the lawn to see the race, and as he was standing there a man snatched the glasses from the open case and retired a few paces back, where he handed them to a woman who was seated on the lawn. The man then came back towards his previous stand, and Green, who was not feeling inclined to oblige a lady in that fashion, asked for his glasses. Thereupon the man denied all knowledge of the glasses, and threatened to use his umbrella on Green. The latter thereupon went away and complained to the police, but the thief could not be found. Last Wednesday afternoon Peter Henry Chaafe, aged 40, a resident of Green Lane, was arrested as being the thief.

In the Auckland Court Chaafe ahso lately denied any knowledge of the glasses, though he stated that Green did stick him up on the course and accuse him of stealing the glasses. He had a good deal to do with horses, and attended most of the races at Ellerslie. On the occasion in question he was there with his wife, but he kneu absolutely nothing of the glasses, except that Green, whom he did not know, had accused him of stealing them.

The Magistrate remarked that as it was a matter only of one word against the other, he could only dismiss the" case.—‘Star.’