THEFT BY PORTER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21154, 29 September 1938, Page 8

THEFT BY PORTER

BULK OF MONEY RECOVERED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, September 28. The theft of an attache case containing £4B in cash and ten cheques amounting to £175 2s lOd, making a total of £224 2s lOd, was admitted by Frederick Hilton, aged 28, and he was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. At one stage the accused collapsed and fell heavily to the floor. He was carried out by detectives, but returned within a few minutes. The story told was that tor several years past it had been the practice of certain theatre proprietors to take cash to the hotel St. George to be placed in the strongroom in the man-age-’s office. On the evening of the theft, Miss Hanson, secretary to the proprietor of the Roxy and Paramount Theatres, entered the hall of the hotel and was approached by the accused who was a night porter. He took possession of the bag and went in the direction of the manager's office. Later it was discovered that the lift was not working and a search was made for the accused, who could not be found. The next morning the strongroom was opened and the bag found to be missing. He was traced to Palmerston North and found with the case and practically all the money in his possession. His taking over of the case from Miss Hanson appeared Horn other evidence to be in accordance with the customary practice. It should have been taken straight to the office by the accused, where the clerk would have locked it up.