AUSTRALIAN SENTENCED

Taranaki Daily News, 8 July 1930, Page 11

AUSTRALIAN SENTENCED

MAN WITH ALIASES. CONVICTION IN WELLINGTON. John Thomas Poynton-, married, described as a salesman, was acquitted in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington on Saturday on a charge of the attempted theft of £5 from John Thomas, but was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on a charge of being a disorderly person, with insufficient lawful means of support. John Thomas said he was going toward Lambton Quay on Friday morning when he was accosted, by a stranger, who asked him where a certain building was. Witness replied that he did not know, as he was a stranger to Wellington. The other man, whom witness knew later as Poynton, said he also was a stranger, and had just come from Stratford. Witness told the accused he was going for a trip to England. The accused also said he was going for a trip, but to Australia. Witness and the accused had tea, and the accused said he had to see a friend in the Treasury. Both men walked to the Treasury together, and witness waited outside. The accused returned to where witness was standing, and said his friend had told him he could have saved a great deal of money by exchanging New Zealand notes for English ones. Poynton then asked witness ho much money he had on him. The witness replied, “ £5,” but said he had some more at the place where he was staying. The accused, said his friend, could probably change £lB for witness. Constable Campin said he was outside the post office when he saw the accused speak to Thomas. He followed both men to the Treasury office and saw the accused go inside. The accused paid two visits to tho Treasury, and shortly after the second visit .witness accosted him. Detective Baylis said he interviewed accused at the detectives’ office, and the accused said he had come from Auckland about three weeks ago. He afterwards said he arrived recently by the Tahiti, under the name of Kent. He told the detective that if he would rcieas him he would go right out of the country. Counsel submitted that there was no evidence to justify a prima facie ease, and there was no evidence to show that the accused attempted to steal the money. The magistrate said that although the circumstances wore highly suspicious, tho evidence was not sufficient to convict, and he would dismiss the charge. Chief-Detective Holms said the accused had had several previous convictions in Australia, and the last time had absconded from' his bail. He also had several aliases. In sentencing the accused, the magistrate said he was satisfied that the accused. had not been living an honest life in New Zealand, • j