ALLEGED TO HAVE JUMPED COUNTER AND STOLEN MONEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18000, 10 November 1926, Page 4

ALLEGED TO HAVE JUMPED COUNTER AND STOLEN MONEY.

Per PreßS Association. PALMERSTON N . November 10 Before Mr Justice Reed and a jury of twelve in the Supreme Court this morning Herbert Gurney was arraigned on a charge that on September 22 he did steal the sum of £220 in money, the property of the Palmerston Borough Council. Accused was not represented by counsel. Addressing the jury, Mr Cooke. Crown prosecutor, said that accused, a seaman and labourer, came to New Zealand about a year ago. On September 13 he proceeded to Taihapc. travelling as far as Palmerston with a young man named Shapleski. There he commenced to work on a farm. After a week he was discharged and paid a small sum for the work done. Coming to Palmerston North he met Shapleski. The pair looked for work, proceeding to the borough offices where accused went in on his own acccJlint in the public office. Finding no one about he jumped over the grille, but was discovered by a clerk named Newson. who had been left in charge of the office during the lunch hour. Questioned by Newsoi* why he was behind the counter, accused replied that he was looking for work. He gave his correct name. Newson went into the main office for some reason or other. While he was there, accused made good his escape, joining Shapleski outside and starting off with him on foot for Wellington. On Newson returning, he did not notice anything amiss, but on another cashier coming back from lunch it was discovered that the sum of £220 in notes, made up for banking, had disappeared. Accused and Shapleski. while proceeding down Fitzherbert Street, were picked up by a car and given a lift for some distance. Near Linton accused left his companion for some time. On rejoining him, the pair proceeded on by road. At Shannon they were stopped by the police and questioned about their movements. Accused had in hii possession two pounds. He had also purchased a pair of boots and given Shapleski money. The pair left next day for Wellington by train, where accused was arrested (Proceeding )