CITY BURGLARIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 30, 5 February 1913, Page 2

CITY BURGLARIES

EX-CONSTABLE CHARGED • A BIG LIST; ; fThe Magistrate's Court was crowded tljja morning, when Charlee 'Alfred Remmers, until lately a constable stationed t ,at Wellington, was charged with a series of offences, set out in the following detail:—(l) That between 4th and 24th January he stole I' gent's cap, 4 fancy undervests, 4 shirte, 8 linen handkerchiefs, 6 pairs of socks, 3 "silk mufflers," 31* silk halldkerchieffi, 5 silk collars, 17 'ties, 4 elastic armlets, and 1 suede elastic belt, of a total value of £16 6s sd, the property of Alexander HendeTson Wallace, draper, Willisnstreet ; (2) that ,on Ist January accused stole 1 gent's gold watch, valued at £5 ss, the property of Cyril Edward Parkes; (3) that on or about 4th January accused stole 5 soft shirts, 1 tie, 1 silk handkerchief, valued at £2 19s, the property of Herberfc Price, mercer, Willis-Atreet ; (4) that on 'or about 22nd January accused broke and entered the premises of Samuel George Hose, jeweller, liambtoniquay^ atid, stole 20 gold bangles, 11 gold wedding rings, 1 silver card case, 2G gold brooches', 2 lady's gold watches, 18 gold signet rings, _ 9 gold pendants, 2 pairs gold _ sleeve links, 26 gold tie pins, and 1 pair <jo!d ear-ring^, 6t a total value of £110; (0) that on or about 4th January accused , stole 1 gent's felt hat, valued at 30s, the property of Alexander Henderson Wallace j that on between 26th December and 6tlr January 'he stole 2 pipes in case?, 6 safety razor blades, 2 tobacco pouches, 3 cigarette holders ill leases, 1 cigarette case, 6 packets of cigarettes, 1 bundle of Swiss cigars, and one box of cigars, value £6 3s 9d, the property of Leonard Sowman; that on between 26th December arid 6th January he stole 6 table knives, 6 dessert knives, 6 tabled obng, 6 teaspoons, and 6 table forks; of a Vdlue of £1 le dd, the pro^ perty of Spencer George Radford. Chief-Detective Broberg prosecuted, and the accused -Was not represented by counsel. BURGLARY AT BOSS'S SHOP. The charge in connection with the burglary from lloss'6 shop was taken first. Amy Gertrude Koss, assistant to S. G. Ross, jewelkr, Lambton-nuay, said that fihe waii the last to leave the premises on Tuesday, 2ist January. Everything wad all right when she left. In the Window there was a largo stock of jewellery; a light was, as usual, burning in the shop.' Next morning she found the window broken, and from the inside of the window she misded the articles referred to in the information. Their value was about £140. Later she identified the articles at the police station. Mary Ledger, married woman, who keeps a boardinghouse in Boulcott-street, said she knew the accused ; who had been in the habit of visiting her house. On 22nd< January last;, in the forenoon, he called at her place twice. On the second visit he asked if he could leave his overcoat there, and she said, "Hang it up." He eaid, "I will take it. up to AJf's room" (meaning Alfred Jackson, with \vhom .accused was acquainted). ■He did so, and went away. On Wednesday, < 29th January, she saw the coat' (produced) 'folded up on a shelf, and called one of the boarders, George Ward, in whose presence she examined the pocketfi. Wrapped in some Bilk handkerchiefs she found a large number of articles of jewellery. She sent her husband for the detectives at pnee, ahd handed over, the overcoat and jewellery to Detectives Rawle and Demp- . Detective Rawle gave formal evidence of receiving the jewellery from the previous witness. ' Detective Andrews said thai when he charged accused with stealing the jewellery he made no reply. After accused had been before the Cbiirt he told witness he intended to plead guilty, and 'taade a statement on the' subject. In that statement he eaid thdt he broke the window rtt 3, O'clock on the morrilng of the 22nd January, and took the jewellery mentioned in the charge. He conimitted the- offence single-handed, and on the spur of the moment, because he owed some mdney to his sister ih Ehgland, and had promised to bring her And his mother out to New Zealand. He had watched' the constable on the ad'joimlig beat until He was satisfied that he was, fat 1 enough away not to hear him. _ Witness added that' in addition fifty tie pins had beeh discovered floating ih a cardboard box in the harbour. On tho night of the burglary accused was on duty as a constable on the beat adjoihing the shop, the window of which was broken, One end ,'of h}s beat was within fifty yards of the shop. ( As in the case of previous witnesses, accused had, no questions to ask. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to «the Supreme Court for sentehce. His Worship made an order that the jewellery be returned to the owner. OTHER CASES. Accused olsb pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a hat from Wallace's and cutlery froni Radford's. In the other cases he elected to be tried by a jury. Formal evidence, and identification of tho various articles' the subject df the charged, was given tjy the parties concernad. , Detective Mason, who arrested accused for the theft of the hat, said that ,on 24th March he found the hat in accusod's room. • He charged accused with till the offences, and he made no, reply. On 31st January, ' after he had been before the Court ahd had consulted a tlolieitor, accused told witness that he intended to .j^ead giiilty to all the charges. Accused gave details of how he had stolen the goods ; in each case he said he had found the doors of the shops open, and went in and stole the goods. That was wlicn he was on night duty. On being formally changed, accused had nothing to cay. He pleaded guilty to each ofience, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Tho stolen .goods in the recent burglary, at Mr. S* G. Ross's, premises, 352, Lambton-quay, 'will be on view, arid will be offered foi' sale at a discount of from 16 to 20 .per cent, for quick sale. — Advt. _^_^-