ARREST AFTER CHASE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 9

ARREST AFTER CHASE

* TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE FEN I) ALTON HOUSES ENTERED On charges of breaking and entering with theft, Edwin Harold Gunthcr and William Throp Townend were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence by Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court yesterday. The evidence showed that Gunther was seen in a house and caught after a chase in which a woman and a man in a car took part. Gunther, a labourer, aged 23 (Mr W. J. Hunter), and Townend, a barman, aged 35 (Mr E. T. Layburn), were join.ly charged that on February 16 ihey broke and entered the dwelling of J. H. A. Moore at 10 Garden road and committed theft, and that on the same day they broke and entered Ihe dwelling of Ellen Denny at 47 Rhodes street and committed theft. ChiefDetective W. H. Dunlop conducted the prosecution. . Leila McMeekan, a domestic in ine employment of Mrs Moore, said she left the house at 3 p.m. and returned an hour and a half later. When she left the house there was no one in it, and she locked all the doors, though some windows were open. On her return home she found a decanter from the dining-room removed and a bedroom door and the back door open. She went into the kitchen and" saw a man whom she recognised as Gunther' on the back step with a suitcase in one hand and two bottles of beer in the other. She spoke to him, but he did not stop, and when accosted again he began to run. He went down Garden road towards Holmwood road. A passing tram saw him running and stopped to take him on board.

Car Chases Tram Witness followed him to the tram stop and found a man in a motor-car, to whom she told her story. He chased I lie tram, and witness recognised Gijnther at the Rhodes street stop, lie had the suit-case on the floor of the tram near him. Gunther got of! the tram when witness spoke to him, but left the suit-case behind. Witness then claimed the suit-case. She then telephoned the police and returned home. The suit-case had some bottles of beer in it. Witness said that the accused Townend was on board the tram at the Rhodes street s^oppm*. pl j Ce H A Moore, sharebroker, of 10 Garden road, said he found his house ransacked when he returned homa About 12 bottles of beer had been stolen, and the jewellery exhibited he recognised as being his wife s pronertv. As far as he could say everything that had been taken had been I. P. Rickclts said he had gone hi the women s lavatory m Ihe Botanic Gardens. Gunther was hiding behind a door. He found a watch, and a diamond ring, and some other ' jewellery there. Gunther moiled of liquor. Ellen Dennv, a widow, ol 4 7 Unorn.s slree 1 said that on returning home on February 17, she found that her house had been broken into. Two windows were broken. Certain artides had been removed, including some coins, two watches, and a sovereign case. A poker had disappeared from the house, but the head of it was in the scullery. Acting-Detective W. A. Parrish read statements made by both accused, in which the offences were admitted. Beth accused pleaded guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Townend was allowed bail in the sum of £IOO, and one surety of £IOO, and was ordered to report daily to the police. Gunther was also charged with breaking and entering the dwelling of Warren Fisher at 57 Garden road and committing theft. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for .sentence. Rail was allowed in the sum of £IOO and one surety ol' £IOO.

PUBLIC GIVE HELP TO POLICE I'HAISE FROM MAGISTRATE AM) CHIEF-DETECTIVE Praise for the way members of the public helped the police was expressed by both Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop and the magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M.. during the hearing of a charge of breaking and entering by day, in the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. Miss Leila McMeckan, a domestic, returning recently to the house of her employer at Fcndalton, found a man standing by the back door with a suitcase in one hand and two bottles of beer in the other. She gave chase and several men took up the pursuit and caught the man. "I should like to take the opportunity o£ expressing the thanks of the police to Miss McMeckan for her resource in this matter," said the ChiefDetective. The magistrate told her when she had iinished giving evidence that the public was indebted to her for her endeavours to prevent crime and to have the offenders brought to justice. He wished to thank her on behalf of the public. "What I have said about Miss McMeckan applies with equal force to a number of persons who took part in the chase," said the chief-detective. "I have had frequent occasion to thank the public in several cases during the last month or two. It is a very admirable spirit and has helped to put down crime and assist in administering justice," concluded the magistrate.