LUCKY BANK NOTE THIEF.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13491, 10 June 1914, Page 6

LUCKY BANK NOTE THIEF.

America's threatened. war with Mexico apparently saved a Bow Street prisoner from a term of penal servitude a few weeks ago. Accused, Thomas Sinclair, was charged with stealing bank notes belonging to Mr. Thomas Cody, an engineer, living at Colon, Panama. Prosecutor stated that he .arrived in London on April 8, and took up his residence, at a hotel in Jermyn street. At night he went to a hotel in Leicester Square, and drank with several men whose acquaintance he had casually made. As lie was was leaving the hotel prisoner made a grab at his jacket, and stole seven £5 notes which, he had there. Prisoner hurried out of the building, and witness followed. He saw him hand the notes to another man, and hurry on. A constable gave evidence as to seeing prisoner leave the hotel in a hurried manner. His suspicions were aroused, and he followed, and saw him hand something to another man.- Prosecutor came up shortly afterwards, and gave accused into custody.

Prisoner pleaded guilty, and several convictions for theft were proved against him. . Mr. Hopkins (to prosecutor) : When do you go.back to Panama? Prosecutor: To-morrow, if war breaks out. Prisoner was sentenced to six months' hard ' labour, the magistrate, saying that he might have gone to penal servitude if prosecutor had had time to give evidence against him at the sessions.