West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Monday 8 August 1898, page 3


LARCENIES.

"BARBERING" A COFFEE PALACE.

At the City Police Court on Saturday, before Messrs. A. S. Roe, .P.M., and F. Craig, J.P., Arthur Keasley and Harold Belsom were charged with the larceny of of two gold rings and 23s. 6d., the property of Clara Walker a chambermaid at the Federal Coffee Palace. Complainant said that on the night of the 29th ult. the two accused slept at the Federal Coffee Palace. They were there for three nights. Three young fellows booked beds and paid for them. Belsom, who gave the name of Anderson, and another,who gave the name of Belsom, paid 1s. 9d , saying that their friend Keasley would pay the extra 3d. when he paid for his own bed. About 9.30 on the next morning (Sunday) the three were in their room and witness asked Keasley why he had not paid for his bed. He re-plied "I will pay you all right" and offered to leave his parcel as security, but the others when he got downstairs got out on the roof and threw tho parcel to Keasley. Witness went to church and left locked in her room two rings and 23s.

When she returned she found the door of her room open. The rings and money were gone. There was no upstairs there. By Keasley : Witness did not see

his parcel thrown to him. Witness under-

stood that he would return in a little while and pay, as he was to get some

money.

Percy Gardiner, keeper of the Federal Coffee Palace, said that the two accused had beds booked for them by Belsom in the namse of Anderson and Keasley. On the morning when Miss Walker went out witness saw Anderson (the accused Belsom) while he was talking to the youth, Belsom, who had booked the beds. Keasley at the time went down a lane at the side of the Coffee Palace. While Detective Condon

was there taking notes, "Anderson" and Belsom came in to pay the 3d. owing. The sum of 14s. 6d. was found on Keasley, while Belsom had 4s. Id., and "Anderson" 4s. They were searched in witness's presence. Belsom said that he had got half-a-sovereign from Miss Glynn in Fre-mantle, saying he had gone down to the the Port on a cart. This half-sovereign he had changed at the Duke of York res-

taurant.

Detective Condon deposed to searching the prisoners, and finding the money on

them. He asked the accused and the lad

Belsom to account for it, which they did as described by the last witness. When they left the place, witness followed them and found the three at the railway station. Witness asked Keasley to go to the Federal, where he searched him, and find-ing money on him asked where he got it. Keasley said that it was what remained of a pound that he had confided to a friend while "shickered"-that was to say, druuk. Witness, considering his story was not straightforward, arrested him.

Joseph Garry, at present under sentence for assault, deposed to seeing accused at the Waterside Police Station on Sunday. He asked Belsom what he got "pinched" for, and he said "For drunk and disorderly and for 'shaking' two gold rings and 25 bob. They'd got the rings planted." Keasley said to him next day that he had a watch pawned, and he was afraid the police would find it out for it was a. " cronk 'un." " Any how," he said, " I'm not a mug to let the Johns cop me."

By accused Keasley : There were others in the yard who might havo overheard the above conversation. He informed Waters, the lockup-keeper of the conversation. Ho did not know the time, as prisoners did not carry watches. By Belsom : Ho (Belsom) told witness about tho rings.

Louis Belsom said that tbo accused Belsom or Anderson came from Melbourne in the Bulimba with witness undor the

name of Barris. Witness gave evidence as to the engagement ol' the beds at the Federal Coffee Palace. Witness and Bavris left the coffee palace together on Sunday. Keasley having left previously. They re-turned to the coffee place, witness remain-ing downstairs while the two accused went upstairs. When they came down they beckoned to witness to follow. This ho did, and all met at tho market. They invited witness to dine with them, and he asked where the money was coming from. Accused said they had got money and told him that they had got 16s. and two rings out of the girl's room, which they entered with a key. The rings were planted. By Belsom {alias Anderson alias Barris) : Witness did not see accused plant the ring. By Keasley : Detective Condon did not tell witness to say anything-only

to tell the truth.

The Chairman said that it woull give the Bench the greatest pleasure to send Keaseley to gaol lor two years, as he wa3 evidently a hardened criminal. Barris may have been made a catspaw by the more clever rogue, so ho was advised to ameud his ways when he carno out of gaol. Both were then givon the maximum penalty, six months' imprisonment with hard labour. The boy Belsom, who had been a witness, was then brought up on a charge of unlawful possession of 4s. Id, which had been given to hini by tho last two prisoners. The Bench gave the boy some good advice and let him go.

John Kenna was charged with the larceny of a silver watch, the property of

H. J. Ashton.

Herbert J. Ashton said that on the 29th ult. the silver watch and chain produced were in his vest pocket in his bedroom at the Miners' Rest. Tha next day they were gone, together with 5s.

P. T. Bendall said that he showed accused to room No. 8 on the 29th ult. That room adjoined the room of the com-plainant. By accused : Witness had not let a bed in Ashton's room to a strange

man.

J. P. Fleming, assistant to Mr. Krug, pawnbroker, said that defendant came to him to pawn the watch produced, and asked for £1. Witness offered 10s., which accused refused. By accused: Accused had brought a metal watch and two chains in on Thursday.

Walter T. Mansfield, another assistant at Krug's, deposed to seeing accused at the shop.

Constable McGree stated that Mr. Krug gave accused in charge.

Accused said that a pawn ticket referring to the watch and chain he had bought for

5s. from a man named Clarke. When asked had he ever seen Clarke before he said " No."

The Bench considered the charge fully proved, and sentenced the accused to four months' imprisonment, with hard labour.

Wm. Carlisle, on remand, charged with the larceny of a watch from the person of Geo. Dixon, at Cremorne, was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard

labour.