CHINESE ROBBED

IN PAKAPOO SHOP

SEAMAN CONVICTED

An attack on a Chinese marker in a pakapoo shop, in Turanaki street by three Europeans late at night on Saturday, 4th April, led to the appearance of George Crawley, a seaman, aged 2S, at the Magistrate's Court to-day on n I charge of theft. Crawley pleaded not guilty, but the Magistrate, Mr.' W. H. Woodward, said he had no doubt that tho accused-was a party to the offence, and admitted him to probation, for one year. In opening the case for the police, Sub-Inspectoi' Lopdell said that at 11 p.m. on Saturday several Europeans were in a Chinese shop' in Taranaki street; .used for the sale of pakapoo tickets. All the white men, with the exception; ,of three, then went out These men started some horseplay. Two jostled over the table where the .Chinese was sitting, and the third turned out one of the lights. Another. Chinaman who'was at the back of the shop canie in and attacked the Europeans with a stool. When the Europeans-left the building the Chinese marker found that eight £L.notes had been taken from the front of his jumper. He also found a felt: hat lying behind the table. Shortly afterwards the accused came back and asked for the hat. FIGHT IN SHOP. Ah Wong, a laundvyman, said that when the two men started to fight-one of them fell across the table where he was sitting, and -witness became pinned against-the wall. Another man was, sitting next to him and pinned him on the .side; When, .an old Chinese, Ah Sam, came into the,room.and attacked the.'men with, the stool they left the shop.The accused."Was one of the men concerned, and was; the one who was wearing >.the hat..;.';- The jiext witness,. Ah Sam, caused some amusement during a cross-examination by Mr.F. W. Ongloy, who appeared for the accused! After he. had duly taken the.oath with/the assistance, of a-Chmeso interpreter, ho faced.the Sub;lnspector,-Tvho asked Mm tt) state; his occupation. Much to .the surprise .of the Court,the interpreter roplied that ,Ah Sam occupied 14D Taranaki street for pakapoo. Ah Sam then described his attack on the ISuropcans, and said that: he had taken; the hat to theshop of another Chinese, who called the-police. In the meantime 'the accused returned and asked for his hat. He ,was kept waiting for a few minutes, arid :was arrested in the street by a. constable. Mr.. Ongley; (to "the -interpreter)Can he converse in English?M;. The interpreter: I "He says,he make himsolf-undcrstood.-Mr.,Ongley: Well, then,! will :have a pop at him. What did. :the accused say to you. when lie eamo into the shop?" Ah Sam: "He say, 'Give me my hat.' Mr. Ongley:. "-What did you say/to that He say, Give me my hat. :Miv Ongley continued along this line for a few moments, but finally had to give .upj'as ho ebuld not get another word-from Ah.Sam.ACCUSED'S EXPLANATION. Constable Brown said that when he arrested the accused in Taranaki street the accused said that ho would not answer any.questions until hq knew what he was chargedr.with.. ..He then said that he was walking back to the Communist Social Hall .in Marion street when he was stopped by a man who offerod him sixpence to get his hat from a Chinese shop. The accused said he refused to take any money, but went to get the hat. When he was questioned he could not give a description of the man who had asked him to go and get the hat

When he entered, the witness-box the accused tried on the hat in question, and said that it was about two sizes too small for him. He said that there had been a quarrel in the Communist Social Hall, and a man had been thrown out. A little later he thought there was,going to be another row, so he decided to go for a walk. When he was in Taranaki street ho met a man who offered him a shilling to get his hat,from Ah Sam's. Mr.Woodward see rip reason to doubt the evidence given by these two Chinese, The defendant did not be have in a manner he would have behaved,if he was an-innoeerit man. The hat may not have been the efendant's, but I am satisfed that he flras, one of the men. concerned. Later Mr. Ongley applied for probation.Mr Woodward: I am quite prepared to admit, him to probation. That application was not made before, but as I have found that he was one of the parties who committed, the theft, he will have to make restitution of £8 Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 86, 13 April 1931, Page 11