ATTEMPTED THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1927, Page 13

ATTEMPTED THEFT

POCKET-PICKING IN CROWD. By Tslegraph.—Press Assocleuon. Auckland, Last Night. A case of attempted pocket-picking was heard in the Police Court to-day, when William Morgan, aged 38, stated to be a recent arrival from Australia on holiday, was charged with attempted theft from the person of Henry Taylor, of Wellington, who, with his wife and child, is spending a holiday In Auckland. Taylor said he was carrying his child down the gangway of a ferry steamer when, in the crush, accused crossed witness with his left arm. At that moment witness looked down and saw accused’s three fingers and the thumb of his right hand in his left breast pocket, where he had his watch and chain. He also felt pressure applied to his right side. Both witness and accused alighted from the gangway at the same time. Morgan hesitated for a moment, and then hurried off the wharf, Witness gave ehase, and eventually a constable arrested the accused on a moving tramcar. After some discussion, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., agreed to adopt the suggestion by Mr. Singer, for the accused, that the charge should be reduced to one of attempted theft. He would convict accused and remand him until Monday for sentence.