STOLEN JEWELLERY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 13

STOLEN JEWELLERY

OVER £5OO WORTH ADMITTED CANNON COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Over £5OO worth of jewellery (the proceeds of two big hauls) was ou view in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday during the hearing of a case iu which Jehu Charles Cannon, a clerk, aged 22, appeared on two charges of breaking and entering in the city. Ho pleaded guilty, and was sent on to the Supreme Court for sentence. Cannon, who is a well-known Wellington amateur theatrical performer, was charged with breaking and entering the premises of the Remington and Roneo Agency of New Zealand, Ltd., situated at 185 Featherston Street., ami stealing goods to tlie total value of £226 55., and further with breaking and entering the premises of William Burd, 4 Willis Street, and stealing pewellery Io the total value of 21302 17s. 6d. Mr. E. Page, S.M., was ou the Bench. ChiefDetective Ward prosecuted, while Cannon was represented by Air. \\ . E. Leicester. ... Evidence as to their premises being broken into and goods as mentioned being stolen was given by Ronald Eric Mills, a salesman in the wholesale department of the Remington and Roneo Agency, and Ernest William Burd, jeweller, of Fletcher's Buildings. Accused Admits Burglary. Acting-Detective 11. Hayhurst said that when he first intervi'.wed Cannon ou January 31 and accused him of having broken into Burd’s shop, accused said ho knew nothing at all about it. ‘‘l don’t believe you," I said, "and after further talk he made a statement to me.” The statement which was put m as evidence explained fully bow accused broke into Burd’s premises. In the statement. Cannon also said- “ About a week ago a young man named Claud Ellison told me 'hat he was going to get married, and he wanted To buy a ring. 1 told him that 1 knew a chap in a jewellers, who wanted some money, and that ho would take ’sopie jewellery from the shop for some money. I made it clear to Ellison that this man would have to steal the jewellery. He said, ‘I will buy the stuff.’ I told him I would get the man to get some jewellery, and I would bring it to him. Next day 1 took a diamond ring and two gold wristlet watches to Ellison nt his work. He understood that they had been stolen. He gave me .£lO for them, and asked me if I could get anymore diamonds. [ said I could, and I got him another diamond ring, which he “was to pay me £3 for, but he has not done so yet. I have had a hard life, and I committed the above offence so T could get to Sydney and make a fresh start.” Tin detective also described the recovering of a suitcase containing the stolen articles from the left luggage office at Lambton Station. Accused also told witness he had given certain articles of the jewellery to a man named Higham, who was a steward on the Kaiinai. Accused later admitted breaking and entering the premises of the Remington and Roneo Agency of New Zealand. Ltd. Admits Other Burglary, Accused, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. The Magistrate made an orjler that ad the stolen property be returned to its rightful owners,. Ellison Charged With Receiving. Claude Weldon Ellison a clerk, aged 24, was also charged before Air. E. Page, S.M., with receiving jewellery to the total value of £57 15s. from jolin Charles Cannon, knowing the same to have been dishonestly obtained. Accused was represented by Mr. E. Parry, and pleaded not guilty. Ernest William Burd said that at 245 p.m. on January 31 a Mr. Webster, a manufacturing jeweller, called,_ and showed him two diamond rings. Witness then went down to see a Mr. Johnson, in Hunter Street, and was intioduced to the accused. "Ellison told me he had found the rings, which I identified as my own property in the street” continued Burd. I told him that a lot of other stuff had been taken from my place, including watches as well. He did not mention having any watches. He seemed very pleased to be able to return the rings to me. It would have been very awkward,” he said, "had they been found in my possession." Witness identified two rings and three watches as his own property. . Acting-Detective Robinson said that about 3 p.m. on Tuesday January 31, he went with Acting-Detective Hayhurst to the office of W. T. Johnson and Co., oil merchants, in Hunter Street, where accused was employed. "I showed him two diamond rings, which I told him had been handed to me by Mr. Burd, and askc 1 him where he got them from. He replied: “I picked them up in the street," I then asked him if he had any of the watches in his possession, and he told me he had no such property. I told him that I did not believeh im, but he still persist ed that he did not have any. After further questioning he said that -he had received some jewellery from a man named Cannon. He then made a statement (produced), in which he said that he had met Cannon about 12 months ago, when the latter was in the employ of a Mr. Graham, an architect. “Cannon,” said the statement, “called to see me last week, and I told him I was going to buy an engagement ring for my young lady. "Don’t do that,” he said, "I can get you one cheap. The statement went on to say that Cannon called by arrangement the next morning to where Ellison worked with two rings and two gold watches, for which accused paid £lO. In a. further statement accused said “I wish now to say straightout that I am well aware the propertv was stolen when I bought it. I wish to make a clean breast of the matter and clear things U| Mr. Parry:’Did you lot accused read the statements over before ho signed them?—"l did.” Alight he not have meant that ho had a good idea they were stolen not at the time be received them, but later on. Did he not say to you, "I ought to have known it seems pretty obvious now?”— "No. I told him he must have known they wore stolen when he bought them so "cheaply, and he said that he did.” Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. He was again allowed bail in the sum of £lO6, with one surety of a like amount.