DRESSING-ROOM THIEF.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15312, 13 August 1923, Page 5

DRESSING-ROOM THIEF.

THEFTS AT FOOTBALL MATCH.

CULPRIT BEFORE THE COURT.

PLAYERS DEAL WITH HIM.

Whilst a "soccer" match was In progress at Seddon Park on Saturday, a sneak thief went round the dressingrooms and stole several sums of money from clothes lying about, and also got away with a pair of boots and a cardigan jacket, belonging to two players. On Sunday a man named Andrew Duncan, who had been hanging about members of the Taumarunui team earlier in the day "borrowing" drinks, paid a visit to the boarding-house where the majority of the Taumarunui team was staying, when one of the players recognised the boots the man was wearing 'to be the ones stolen on the previous day. On being accused of the theft, defendant said that if they liked to go with him to Frankton he would prove that he had had the footwear for six months. Once outside the house, however, he bolted, and a chase followed. The quarry was eventually secured, and not desiring to drag the man to court, they divested him of the boots and left him to find his way .about, bleeding and bruised, in his stockinged feet, ' and looking very much as though he had come out of a very rough football "scrum." The police later found him behind a workshop in Collingwood Street, and discovered at his lodgings a fur, a muff, bag, two overcoats, the .stolen cardigan, and a number of other articles for the possession of which he was unable to satisfactorily account. When Duncan appeared before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., at the Hamilton Court, to-day, the police asked for a remand until Friday to enable them to try and get some information regarding the ownership of the other articles, about which defendant refused to give them any information. In answer to his Worship as to where he got the fur, muff and ladies' bag. defendant said he fell asleep in Victoria Park, Auckland, some time ago, and an intoxicated women sat down beside him. When he awoke, the woman had gone, leaving the articles in question beside him. His Worship: And you took 'them awaj, ?

Defendant: Well, I couldn't leave them there. (Laughter.) A remand was granted.