LEFT WITH UNCLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 13

LEFT WITH UNCLE.

ADVENTURES OF A WATCH. WAS IT REALLY STOLEN? An application, which is probably unique in the Dominion, was made to Mr T. A. B. Bailey in the Magistrate's Co,urt yesterday afternoon by the executors of the late Peter Stranberg, of Auckland, who asked that they should be declared the owners of a gold watch and chain now in the possession of the police. The application was made under the provisions of the Police Force Act, 1913. Mr Mills appeared for the applicants. The facts were that in October, 1913, Stranberg's house was broken into, and a gold watch and chain stolen. Although the articles were not recovered at the time, the thief was apprehended, and duly dealt with by the Court. Later on, a gold watch and chain, which were believed to be those stolen from Stranberg, were found in a pawn shop in Christchurch, and were taken possession of by the police. In the ■meaiitime Stranberg had died. In the Court yesterday a former owner of the watch and chain gave evidence. He stated where he had bought them, and how he had subsequently pawned them. They had been pawned in all four times.

Further evidence was given that the articles had "been in pawn. in Christchurch at the time of the theft. Mr Mills applied for an adjournment, in order to consult the executors, who did not seem to be aware of the full facts. An adjournment, sine die, was granted. ,