PICKPOCKET CAUGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1023, 14 July 1930, Page 10

PICKPOCKET CAUGHT

TRAPPED WITH MARKED HALF-CROWN GAOL FOR 14 DAYS A marked half-crown cleared up the mystery of the disappearance of several small sums of money from the pockets of members of the Friendly Societies’ Bowling Association, at Ponsonby, and resulted in Charles Tucker being sentenced at the Police Court this morning to 14 days’ imprisonment. Tucker, a-plumber, 23, was charged with the theft of 2s 6d, the property of Matilda May Kayes, on July 12. Mr. Aekins appeared for accused and pleaded not guilty. Sub-Inspector Shanahan said that various small sums of money had been missed recently from the Friendly Societies’ Indoor Bowling Association at the Ponsonby Drill Hall, and on Saturday last Mr. Kayes placed a marked half-crown in Mrs. Kayes's handbag, which was hung on a peg on the wall. A constable had been detailed by the police to watch the bag and had seen accused hang his coat alongside and walk over to it several times during the afternoon. Accused was later searched, when Mrs. Kayes found that the half-crown and two half-pennies were missing, and the marked coin had been found in his vest pocket. TRAP SET Horace Leonard Kayes, a commission agent, gave evidence as to marking two half-crowns and placing one coin in the handbag at 1.40 p.m. it was missing at 5 o’clock. Witness had next seen it at the Ponsonby police station at (i o'clock. Mr. Aekins: You say you marked two coins. Where did you put the other ? Witness: In the handbag of another woman. The bag had been opened, but the coin was not remo-ved. Frank Alexander Harris, president of the bowling association, said he had arranged with Mr. Kayes to set a trap, because of several complaints received, and at 5 o’clock he had informed a sergeant of police that the money was missing. The sergeant had interviewed accused, who denied any knowledge of the theft and produced tenpence, which he said was all he had in his possession. He had offered to be searched and the halfcrown had then been found in a vest pocket.

Sergeant Lambert gave evidence as to finding the coin and said that two half-pennies had been found in accused’s overcoat. Tucker had then stated that he had found the halfcrown near the door of the tearooms.

“I asked my partner for a cigarette and as he didn't have one, I went across to my overcoat to get some money,” said Tucker, who took his place in the witness-box. “When J went across to the tea-rooms later, I found the coin lying on the floor, and put it in my pocket.” He had forgotten about the halfcrown being in his vest pocket when he offered to be searched. He was innocent of the theft. “He has been pickpocketing all right.” said Mr. F. K. Hum. S.M. “Fourteen days.”