THEFT OF PURSE.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18877, 22 February 1933, Page 6

THEFT OF PURSE.

DEALER FOUND GUILTY.

ENTERED OOCUPIED HOUSE. CRIME AT CLAUDELANDS, Pleading not guilty, Francis Halligan, a wood and coal dealer (35) was charged with stealing a purse and contents valued at £4 from a Claudeiands dwelling on December 1, before Air Justice Smith and a Jury in the Supreme Court, at Hamilton to-day. Air 11. T. Gillies appeared for the Crown and Mr YV. Noble represented the accused. Helen Sarah Bethune, married woman, of Paeroa, stated that on December 1 she was staying with her mother at Station Road, Claudelands. That afternoon her baby was in a pram on the front verandah. When she heard the baby cry out she went out and saw the accused on The verandah. 'He asked her If she wanted any firewood. After asking her mother witness told the accused that no firewood was needed and the accused left. Later witness, when talking inside the house, noticed a shadow In the hall. Both she and her mother went into the bedroom and saw the accused coming out with 'her purse in his hand. Witness’ mother caught hold of the accused, who then dropped the purse, and ran away from the house. Later that afternoon witness visited the police-station and identified the accused without difficulty.

Identified at Station. Edna Snookes, married woman, of Station Road, Claudelands, said the previous witness was her daughter. She corroborated 'her evidence. She saw the accused bending over her bed and encountered him as he was emerging from the bedroom. Witness cried: “Give me > that, thief,” and the accused put down 'her daughter’s purse and made off. She also had no difficulty in Identifying the accused at the police-station. Constable F. >N. Aplin testified that he visiled Airs Snookes’ home later that afternoon and was given a description of the intruder. At 5 p.m. in company with Constable Callaghan, witness observed the accused at Hamilton East. In reply to Constable Callaghan the accused asserted that he bad not left the section on which lie had been cutting firewood all that afternoon. Subsequently Halligan admitted that he was caught coming out of a bedroom with a purse that afternoon. “I don’t know why I did it tout I was hard up,” Halligan had said. Witness then described an identification parade at the police-station at which tooth women easily picked the accused.

Evidence supporting that of the previous witness was given toy Constable G. E. Callaghan.

No Evidence for Defence. Air Noble called no evidence for the defence and addressed the Jury. He assorted that it was astonishing that such a trivial case should be brought before the Supreme Court. Halligan had been in gaol since December 1. His Honour: There is no evidence of that. Air. Noble. Continuing, counsel impressed upon the jury the danger of convicting a man chosen in an identification parade. There was a conflict of evidence and it was quite possible that the women concerned had made a mistake. If there was any reasonable doubt the jury was entitled to acquit. After a few minutes’ retirement the jury brought in a verdict of guilty and the accused was remanded for sentence.