Alleged Theft at the Navy Y. M.
C. A.: Plea of Assisting A
A Helpless Man Upon charge of the larceny of a gold watch and chain and money from the person of Gordon Gruschka, at the Navy Y.M.C.A., William Garden, second-class engineer, U. S. S. Huron, was committed for trial by Mr.
Lurton at the U. Commissioner's Court on Monday, Sub-Insp. Powell said that at 4 am. on the 30th ultimo, Gruschka was lying drunk in the hallway of the Navy Y.M.C.A. About that time prisoner came up in a ricsha, went into the hallway, got hold of Gruschka, and attempted to lift him up. He wag unable to do so, and then searched the man's pockets, taking from prosecutor's person the property set out in the charge. Prisoner was about to get into a ricsha when a Chinese police-sergeant arrested him. He resisted and assistance had to be sought to bring him to the police station.
The Chinese police-sergeant corroborated the Inspector's statement, saying that he saw Garden searching the drunken man's pockets.
Pol.-Sgt. Dear said that when the bluejacket was brought into the charge-room he was certainly drunk, but not violent. Witness had received.a. telephone message from the Chinese sergeant about the affair, and instructed him to leave the drunken man, who was now the prosecutor, and take prisoner into custody. Witness was unable to leave the station but waited outside the gates with the object of rendering any assistance when the party should turn into Foochow Road. He saw prisoner being supported by two Chinese police officers, and was then offer ing no resistance.
Det.-Sgt, Henry stated that he found Gruschka lying on his back, helplessly drunk. After being put into a ricsha, he sobered up a little. At the station, he appeared better. He identified the property found on Garden's person.
Prosecutor said he could not remember Garden having stolen his property, but recognized him as the man he saw later at the police station. The property produced in Court was his.
Upon this evidence, the Commissioner committed the accused to the higher Court. He was admitted to G.$200 bail.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.