MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 803, 28 April 1910, Page 4

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(Before Mr. W.' G. Riddell,' S.M.V

THE MOERAKI ROBBERY. 'A TRIMMER CONFESSES. ;.r ; ; The.young man';, Joseph'' Walker, a .:trimmer, who was arrested last week, was charged that, on April 9,-,'oii board ?.iho. steamer Moeraki, ho did . steal jewellery, clothing,, and papers, and!- . £20: in; money, tho'-property iof;, Ethel Beatrice. Miles. : Thd'total value of the particles mentioned on the charge sheet. 1 was given : . as £120: Chief-I)etectivo Broberg conducted '-'t.ho 'case, for" tb</ prosecution.'-;-'' .Arthur H. Miles, resident partner in thorfiriri of Murray, Roberts, and Co., :• V stated that his daughter left." Wellington by. the Moeraki on April 8, en route . for England. . Tho . jewellery produced belonged l to her. •. It had -been .-packed in a suit-case, aud placed in her. states room on the. steamer.. .- : Uetective: Androws-"stated, in ~ evideuce,- that; 'on 'the arrival • of 1 - tho '*Moeraki- from" Sydney'on April 20,' ho visited tho vessel,"accompanied by "Pa--V ":,iective. lewis/" When searching the ; firemen's, and. trimmers'/quarters bis . attention was attracted to some •' V apparel hanging! onthe'wall, and, on 1 searching , this; ho; discovered a smallparcel, containing ■ jewellery. Accused, on being questioned, denied -'ownership ' • of the parcel. A little later. Detective.i Tiowis found a gold cable bangle in a box belonging to accused,-and sonie ■; sealing-wax similar to that with-which the parcel: of-jewellery had been scaled was found-in- a' lockcr used; by-accused. - On being charged with .'the offence . . Walker replied that he had dccidcd to tell the truth about the matter, and lie then dictated a statement, in which he confessi'l. that, at 4 a.m. nn April ' ■ (the day after-the s't-eamor left'Wollingtbn'for Sydney)', ho' was going' nn f .. : ' <luty,' when.' his .attention: was"."drawn to.a dressing-case in one of tho cabins. Ho reacbcd through the porthole ami ' took the . case out of .the -cabin,.-.and, •f':; after hiding- it,': went on-: duty in -,the igtokehqld. After- working for-'about. .- an hour, he returned and oxaminech thn' I:dfessitig-case, 'which ho 'found' til con--1.. ; tain, jewellery,silvchvare'.' articles"'of I vearing apparel, etc. He took the

jewellery arid silverware out, and throw the bag overboard'. Ho then packed the silverware in an ash-pan, and took it down into ' the stokehold, whero lie secreted'it. in-.the-,-bunkers. When bo ihrew Uie. dressing-case overboard there was a, manicure caso and set'in it, also a "photograph, n -sash,- several books) a blouse, spme. correspondence, ' and a leather bag. ', Ho': did not examine tho bag,to..sce it there..'was,'any, money, in it.,-. If there ] was,' it was thrown. overboard with tho bag. Accused described tho .place .where ho .had hidden the*, silverware, and stated that ho was tho only, person who had " taken part inl tho' .olfencoV .'.The silverware had sinco been'recovered. . V.Tho'. Chief Detective stated that this Was all. the evidence wjiicli it was proposed; to tender.... . .v' ■. \ • Accused . pleaded . guilty, and was committed -to : tho Supremo Court for Gontance. .

. .THE CUBA .- STREET:-CASES. v. . STORY,OF THE ARREST. ' Martin Win. Tier and Jas. Edward Bowker'were jointly charged: (1) That on : April 18, at Wellington; they did break'and enter .the shop'of 'Edward Pcaice. anii Co., and. steal therefrom 30 pairs of boots valued'at about £'20, and. (2|-. that on or about April IS, at Wellington, they did break and enter 'the shop of- j. E. -Lindberg, and' steal u purso and 3d.-in money. , • ■ Mr. Herdman appeared for Tier, and Mr". Dix for -Bowkef. ; Chief-Detectivo Brobei'g conducted'th'Scasofor the prosecution. It .was agreed to tako both charges together. . * .J. J.' Lindberg,, draper, Cuba Street, ■deposed that some tiwo . .during . Mie night of April 18 his Shop was broken 'into, through a-panel of an upstairs door having been broken. The lock of tho -door was also broken. .This admitted the intruders into tho upper floor, . and , they .got; on. to the lower floor bv cutting some rags into strips and making a rope.- Witness recognised tho purse (produced), which was in his •cash, desk when lie , left "the shop on ■April 18- Witness next the pul'se ( in the., possession, of Detective Rawle. . ..l?viden(»-.was;-given..by Edward a. Pearce,'- of tho iinn ■of Pcarcc .and Oo.;- next door to- Mr. -Lindberg 6 P re " . mises, > that on the night of April 18 ilis shop was. entered, an entrance being .effected., through the, back . door. J?o----.t.ween. 20 and 30 -pairs of boots wen) '.akniv from tho. shop, also - some os. [Worth '.of ,:Stamps -frohi the' ofhee, and six or., eightpairs of boots which had been left for. repairs were missing from "the w'oi'kslioj). , ; Tlie:'botits-produced belonged to witness. 'Roughly speakmg, '.the 'VJiliie-'of - tfi6 property; stolen was '£20V: y'AVi t'h&s ,'f oiltid tlie"piirse - (pro~'tiuced) , iu "th®. ,shop^after-[tli'o. j. ;The. pufse' was'- not his, Witness alsc : fouud.a burglar's.."jemmy"Vagain3t tho •office.' ■•■.-. < --.'Stanley Pcarco,-brother, ofcrtho; last ■witness,' testified/to ' having; - securely locked .up l/ho ; premises on the evening of April-18. - •" • "' - • ■ Detective liawJe; stated that on Ap'ru 19 he saw Tifer coming'oiit'of the Albert • Hotel:'with;;ir Wfe'.on'.his shoulder. .Tier '£ot to vanid ; witness alia ' Detec,tiyo. ietvis. followed., At. the .Hotel Cecil corner accused got. off, leaving.the . bag on the car. Witness got' off and ■asked accused' why-he had . loft tho ' swag on. tho car.' ,; Accused said "I had no swa'gi'' 'What are you' tryiiig to get oh .'to. me." '.- Oivopening'tho-bag at'the -Polieo'.' Statioii,'. : in',..-; tho'' --'presence . of iaccused/'.'.lkptsr werff.'fouiid-'itisidc. : Oil bping -chargodj -Jior -.saifl going to denj everything;''-..o'After [§ ' the -■ same ■ day -'.witiiess,. - Detectives ■ Lewis ; and:'- : AndmyS w.e'nt. : s to:.'p,-hpiiso. in M'Alpiiio 'Avenue;- anu'V, saw .■ Bowker, . who handed over about'.lo'pairs of now boots and made a statement m regard to , premises/; sfeytin'g that whilst :.undcr. the' influence:', of f .liquqr on April 1.18. h.6;iiot, Tipi;" and, : .wpnt ■ with-) him 'to Lindberg'ffr premises,','cntoririg by ; a ;back,:d6ar.-v 1; sV Date6Wvc..Low.is;'epr'rob(irated the, evidence., given ; by Detective■ R-ajvle." ' , .... \Tier^pleaded..jiot.guilty, ; aiid was .cpm-mitted'-.to..tho;:Siipremo'Cdurt. 'for. trial Bowker"'pleaded- guilty, and .was- ■.committed ,to : the. Supreme Court for ' senBail ;was allowed'in'the sum .of £100 .and two sureties of £50 each. .

FORMIDABLE LIST'OF CHARGES. FiNGER-i'Rl NT EVIDENCE. Accused /Tier was also charged as ;underOn or about January 19, 1910, at Brooklyn; he did'break; and. enter the 6hop;bf V. R.- Simpkis's, and steal goods valup £9, lls.-; (2) on oi' about November .29,. 1909,, ho. did .break and enter tho warehouse of Gollan' and Co., Ltd., and steal goods, and £i, 18s. 6d. -. -in money, the total value being.£lß 25.; :(3). on.or. about .November 29, 1909, he did break an'd enter the warehouse of Harris, Morris and, Co., and steal one pieco of, tweed, one coat, and. £4 in' money, the-total, value being ,£7 155.; (4) "on or about November 29, 1909, he did-break and enter , the ; warehouse of J. Keir and Co., and steal , stamps taliied at ss. 2d.V and Is. in money. : .''.Vidt'or; R. Simrikissi;' gWcer,-" Brooklyn, stated that ori'tlie'night of January, 19 his shop was broken' .iuto,'. a ladder haying been placed'. against •a' side window-.to give.,an'.;' entrance.. Goods ,'valiied. at £9 lis. wero. missing.. Witness found that some lemonade bottles had bean -taken out of -their cases and left on tho counter: .Detective Cassells took possession of the bottles. „ Detectivo .Cassells gave,; evidence ai •to having found' a finger-print ' on the •bottle. of lomonade' wliicli he scoured on witness; Simpkiss's counter. -He Ji'anded.this.; bottle.; to "Mr.,. Dinnie, fin- - ,d Evidence- was - given April 20 he,took the:,finger-prints-/of:--accused.' .-Harold Ahearriy accduritsntj and J. Halligan,.; salesman, bf.'Messrs; 1 Gollin and C 0.,: detailed the 'breaking into the firm's warehouse, Jervois Quay, on the night of -.'November ,29 last,, and theft of £4.185. 6d. and certain, goods. Particulars of tho , breaking into tho premises, of Harris, Morris, and Co., JerJvois'Quay, wero given by If. Morris, who deposed that one of the doors had •been,.burst out of . its frame. In tliis instance .a eashbox had" been -broken open: and £4 J os. ;3d. extracted. A s suit length of -tweed -arid a coat wero also 'missing;.' Witrifcss' handed "the eashbox 'td Detective 'Caineron. '

' Roj' Goss, clerk, and' Harry Brown, clerk, employed'by John Keir, fonyaiding agent, ivliose offices are, in tho same building as. Morris arid Co. and Gollan ana Co., gave_ evidence as to the breaking into Keir's office, and the thefts, of. ss. . 2d. -,worth of., stamps and Is. ui monov. 1 The same day Camoron took -possession of tho cashbox.- - : ;r; :> -

Dotectivj Cameron stated that tho enshboxes taken possessiiiri, of by him boro : finger-prints, and ho' handed them to the finger-print' expert. Detective Lowis stated that he took .the finger-print j of. .accused, ami pro-duced-a-shoet:of -the- prints.- .On April ,19..h0" searched tho house occupied by Tier, found'tho. clothing produced, .the clothes, .being tlie articles referred 'to by witness I-lalligan as- having been ■missed.from'.his-firm!s premises. ..On April, 23 accused.:, was ai*restod on the above charges. The end pf.-the "jemmy," |)roducecl:.corresppnde'd : with holes made in bursting-open certain of the. doors in Gollaii and Co.'s, Kqir'sj and. Morris's premises...;, „, „ ■ ■ ; E.' Wl'.' Dinrifo, Tmgei'r-jirint expert in the Polico/Department,. deposed that tlio fingcr-pnri't 'oii 'the lemonade bottle from . .Cassells was 'identical with'the.-impressions taken by Detective' Andrews .oii Apiil 20.; AVitness received; tiio .oaßliboxcs from Dq- 1 :tecti\ ; 'o' Camer6ii,;and 'plibtograplied one print off oa'cli" box,' mid* found tjjom to 'bd- ''identical' with' the' riglit-thuriib (impression (in Keir's case) of the "prints taken by Detective Lewis. Tho finger-

impression on Morris and Co.'s cashbox was identical with tho left ring finger on tho impression taken by Doteclivo Lowis. There was 110 doubt in his mind as to tho identity of tho fin-ger-prints. .-. Accused pleaded not- guilty to each charge, and was committed, to tho Supremo . Court .for. trial. . Bail, was' allowed in vtiio. Glim , of £200 and . one surety of £200.

CHARGES Or ASSAULT. Norman Reginald Smith was charged —(1) with having assaulted one Win. Stewart M'Cutclleon, so as to cause him actual bodily harm, • and (2) with having assaulted one Chas. Hugh. M'Cutchoon, so as to. cause him actual bodily harm. A remand to May 4 was granted, bail being allowed in tho sum of £80 and two sureties of £-10 each. Mr. Willis appeared for defendant.

ALLEGED .THEFT AND VAGRANCY. . Henry ■ Smith was charged—(l) with being deemed a roiruo and vagabond in that ho was founa by night without lawful excuse on tho premises of Arthur Edward Preston, Sage's Lane, and (2) witli stealing two ducks,- valued at 65., the property of A. E. Preston. ' Mr. J.ackson, • who appeared iur Smith, said that his client elected to bo tried by a jury. ; Evidence was called with a new to showing that accused was found on the premises in question, a : poultry loft'inSage's Lane, and two duck's wore picked up with their necks wrung, when accused was arrested on tho premises. ,

A plea of not guilty was entered by accused, who was committed to the Suprfeme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the sum of £50 and two sureties of £25 each.

A SEJMOUS CHARGE. ■' Robert Anderson, a half-caste Hindu, pleaded not guilty to a charge of committing a serious offence, and was committed to the Supremo Court for trial.

■ OTHER CASES. ; Martin Samuolson, who ma'do his fourth appearance' in four, days on a charge of insobriety; was sentenced to one month's' imprisonment. A prohibition order : to have twelve months' currency, was ordered to issuo against accused.

. Ruby Kirk, alias Prosser, ,was also sentonced to 0110 month's imprisonment, and a prohibition order was issued against her: One first offender was fined 55., and another was convicted and discharged. Sydney, Diamond appeared on remand on a chargo that on or about November 23, at Wellington, lie did ; steal the sum of 155., : tho property of his emiployers, the Australian Provident Society. .On the application of Mr. O'Leary a furtliei- remand to Monday.. next was jgranted, 'bail being allowed .in a donosit, of £5:. - . .