CHARGE OF THEFT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16510, 22 August 1921, Page 7

CHARGE OF THEFT.

A LYTTELTON CASE, Charged with stealing the sum of £9 from the person of Thomas Bodger, Pavfil Irwin, s waterside worker, appeared before Mr W. T. Lester and Captain R. Hatch well, J.P.’b, at the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court this morning. Thomas Bodger stated that he was a cook, with his residence at Wellington. On Friday last lie was paid off the Kittawa and drew £l2 14s. He kept £3 odd separate from tho £9, which he placed in a wallet. «He left the Kittawa again about 5.30 p.m., with the intention of joining the Mararoa for Wellington. When lie came off the Kittawa he saw the accused, who accompanied him along the back of the Coronation Hall. Tie did not know the accused, but had seen him working down in the hold of the Kittawa. Witness walked along to the back of the Coronation Hall, where witness took out liis wallet to get lii3 boat ticket. He took the nine notes out and the next thing he knew was that he saw the accused snatch the notes and run away out of sight. Bodger then made for the Mararoa. but just missed her as she was leaving. The affair took, place about 5.45 p.m. He saw the accused again on Saturday evening, when lie identified him and informed Constable Hodgius. To tlie accused : The first time that he saw* accused- was on board the Kittawa on the first day she w r as worked. He had had two hours’ sleep. “I saw you on the Saturday evening about five o’clock, when I identified you, but did not see you afterwards. I am certain you were the man who snatched the money out of my wallet. Nelson Usher, a watersider, residing in Lyttelton, stated that on Friday last lie was working with Irwin on the s.s. Kittawa. Irwin worked in the hold of the vessel until 5 p.m. with him. Witness went back to w r ork at 6 p.m., but accused did not return. He went back to the ship by the back of the Coronation Hall, where ho saw the accused standing talking with another man. After passing on for about forty yards he happened to look back to where Irwin had been standing and saw Irwin running aivay. He walked towards the station to .see where Irwin was running, but he had disappeared. Thinking something was wrong he went back to the man to whom the accused had heeiv talking, who had a wallet in his hand and who complained of Irwin taking tlie £9. He had known Irwin for about twelve months. He was sure Irwin was the man that ran away. Frederick Joseph Page, a waterside worker residing at Lyttelton, said that on Friday last he was working on the Kittawa. and knocked off at 5 p.m., and returned at 0 p.m. He returned along . the back of tlie Coronation Hall with the previous witness. He passed two ihen sitting on the seat at the back of the hall. Usher drew his. attention by saying, “Did you see that” and looking around lie saw a man running away from another. He could not identify the man who disappeared. Constable Hodgins stated that from a complaint received on the morning, of August 20 he saw Irwin outside an hotel and told him he wished to speak to him at the police station. Tie told him to go on ahead. He stated ho would follow but remained talking to a man at the’ corner of London and Oxford Streets. There wore four or live other men standing nearby. Witness told complainant at the police station to go out and see if he could pick the man. Complainant identified Irwin as the man who had stolen his money. Bodger just after came up and said, “ That is tho man,” pointing to Irwin. Irwin was searched at the police station and two £1 notes, 15s in silver and one penny were found on him. Accused, who reserved his defence, pleaded not guilty, and was remanded to the Supreme Court.