A BREWERY SAFE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1501, 25 July 1912, Page 6

A BREWERY SAFE.

CHARGE OF BREAKING AND ' ENTERING. ' STATEMENTS BY ACCUSED. (By Telegraph,—Press Association.) Auckland, July 24. Paul Eugene Serin and Daniel Murphy (alias Reynolds) were this morning at the Police Court charged with having, on June 20, broken and entered tho office of tho Great Northern Brewery,' in Kliyber Pass, with intent to commit a crime. Chief Detectivc M'Mahon prosecuted, and accused were not represented by counsel. Evidence was given by employees to the effect that the front dcor of the office had Ireen found open on the morning of June 21, as noil as the window of tho telephone room, while "the keyhole of the strongroom was found plugged with gelignite. Detective Powell gave evidence of an interview lie aiid Deteotivo, Cummings had with Murphy on June 27 last, and also as to an interview they had that evening with Serin when they arrested him, The latter then said he had known Murphy in Wellington.' Murphy's statement was read to him, and lie said, "It's a lie." Witness detailed the evidence given previously as to the finding of torches, keys, a jemmy, revolver, and other things in Serin's house. Later that evening 'Serin made a statement when ho was at tilie detective offico, and was arrested.

The statement made by Murphy was lo the effect that about sixteen months previously lie had met a man name "Giis" on Wellington Wharf. He had met him since, but did not know: his name. Between 9 and 10 o'clock on the morning of the attempt oil tho safe 1 of the Great Northern Brewery ho met "Gils" 011 Queen Street Wharf. "Gus" asked deponent to meet him at 7.30 that evening at tho top of Symonds Street, remarking in respect to /the safe at tho Great Northen Brewery that they would go down rind givo a crack. They walked to the brewery and got in by the oflico window, which was partly open. "Gus" went into the office, and lie (Murphy) went and watched. "Gus" had shown him half a plug of gelignite, about a-foot of fuse, and a dynamite cap which lie had. After being in the office about three-quarters of an hour, "Gus" came out and said the cap was too large, lie showed deponent some keys and a jemmy about a foot long. Serin took the car up Kliyber Pass, and Murphy walked home.

Serin, in his statement said that 110 came from Wellington in Octobor last. When he met Murphy on the wharf the latter said: "How ore you doinpr, 'Gus'?" and asked him if lie would take a job, remarking that it was a "tank," meaning a safe. The statement agreed with Murphy's so far as meeting and going to the brewery was concerned, but then differed. Serin said 110 had n revolver, cartridges, and a jemmy. When they entered tho office, Murphy pulled some gelignite from his pocket and filled the keyhole of tho safe, and handed Serin a detonator, but he could not fix it, and, becoming afraid, they walked out of the front donr. After Detective Cnmmings had corroborated the evidence of Detective Pow°U, Serin olended "Guilty," and Murphy "Not Guilty." They were committed to tho Supreme Court, the former for sentence, and the latter for trial,