ALLEGED BURGLARY.

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 257, 18 July 1918, Page 7

ALLEGED BURGLARY.

•» MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT FROM A WAREHOUSE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL ( The caso in which Michael Kelly was charged with having broken and entered tho premises of Messrs. Miller and Ahearn, woollen merchants, Wakefield Street, on June IS, and stolen five rolls of suiting cloth, valued at -till!) llii. Ikt, camo on for healing before Mr. S. .13. M'Carlhy, S.M, at the Magistrate's I Court yesterday. J Chiet-.l)eteclive Boddam prosecuted. 1 Accused, who was not represented by c counsel, pleaded not guilty. i In stating tho ci;«e, Chief-Detectivo s Boddam said that between II p.m. and 7 r p.m. on June 3, Sergeant M'lCelvey and i Constable King were oil duty in Old Customhouse Street, where they met t Kelly and another man named George ' James Selway, each carrying a bundle I upon his shoulders. The men were accosted by the police, ami Selway was detained temporarily by Sergeant M'lvelvey. Kelly bolted, but was aftoywards (,-aught by Constable King. The bundles consisted of chall'-saelcs, and contained rolls of cloth. At tlio time the men were charged with theft and of having stolen property belonging to some persons unknown. A day or two afterwards, however, it was ascertained that Mm warehouse belonging to Messrs. Miller and Ahearn had been broken into, and the goods found in the possession of '£el ! ,y and Selway were identified. Subsequently tho accused were each charged with having broken and entered the warehouse. i'ne cases were adjourned, and both men were admitted to bail. In the meantime, Kelly absconded, aud was later arrested in AVanganui. Selway had been, committed for trial. Francis Joseph Milkr, partner in tho firm of Miller and Ahearn, stated that on Saturday, June 1, he left the warehouse at noon, being the last person lo leave. Before going he examined all the doors, ami was satisfied they were all . securely fastened and lucked. A window at the." back which was open was closed by witness. Oil Tuesday, June i, he re- ; turned to the premises, the previous day ' being a holiday, aud immediately upon ope" ling the door lie found the shop had been disarranged, and a piece of tweed 1 was covered with ehalV cuttings. There j were chatf cuttings oil the door, and also near a window, aud on the counter. 1 The . .vindow faced Waicelield Street. Witness made an examination, and ! found limit her piece of cloth covered with chaff. Two rolls of cloth were missed at that time. The doors were quite in 1 order, but one of the fasteners of t.lie ' window facing AVakefield Street was broken, the break appearing to be new. On the Tuesday afternoon witness went lo the Taranaki Street. Police Station, and saw three rolls of cloth, which he identified, as belonging tj his firm. On Thursday, June G, a further examination v.'as made of the warehouse,, and two other pieces of cloth were found to be. missing. These had not yet been recovered. Evidence was given by Constable King that at about (5.40 p.m. on Monday, .tune :i, he was in company with Sergeant M'lvelvey in Old Customhouse Street, and noticed the accused aud a man named Selway in Farish Street. Both were carrying sacks. When the two men observed the police they hurried away.AVitness aud the sergeant followed them up Farish Street, across Manners Street, into Herbert Street. Selway was a little ahead, and Sergeant M'Kelvey went after him. and approached liini as he. was. ,turning into iidwnrd Street. Witness, was a little in front, of Kelly, when ! suddenly he heard a thud, nnd found that Kelly had dropped the bundle ho was enrrying, and had rim away down ' Lombard Street. Witness .chased him, j and caught him, and brought him back ' to. where the bundle lay. AVlien the bundle was opened it was found to con- ' tain two rolls of cloth. Accused Kelly ! was asked where he got the cloth, and ' he replied: "A man. gave it: to mo lo carry." Afterwards, the two accused, 1 Kelly and Selway. wore charged at the Taranaki I'olice Station with the theft ' of the cloth, and Kelly remarked: "Wo 1 are the mugs. A man named ,lames Anderson gave, us the stuff lo curry. We '■ mot .liirii near (he Working Men's Club." The sacks in which the cloth was beingcarried had evidently contained chaff. Detective James. Torrance said that 1 about !l p.m. on June II last he and De-teclire-Sergeant Rawle searched (lie room occupied by Kelly at the l-igmont l'rirate Hotel. The only thing they look chargo of was a sugar-bag containing lliirty-ono ; bottles, in which was a liquid preparation which smelt liko tar. Kelly said ' the preparation was a watcrproof-dress-J ing which lie made himself, and sold to ' men on the wharf. Oil June !l witness 1 charged Kelly with having broken and ! entered the warehouse of Messrs.'Miller " aud Ahearn. and Kelly replied (hot lis knew nothing about the matter. c Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved [ his defence, and' was committed to tho Supreme Court lor trial.