NEWTOWN ROBBERY

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 42, 19 February 1930, Page 11

NEWTOWN ROBBERY

CLOTHING STOLEN

FIVE YOUTHS CHARGED

POUR PLEAD GUILTY

A hole cut with a brace and bit and a saw in the floor was the moans by which four youths entered the shop of Georgo and George, Ltd., in Riddiford street, recently. This fact was brought to light in tho Magistrate's Court today -when four of tho fivo youths charged with breaking and entering tho shop and stealing goods to the value of £03 13s pleaded guilty to tho offence. Tho names of the accused we.ro Henry Coronno, aged ID; Codric Mnitlnnd Gay, aged 19; Ernest Charles Smith, aged IS; Patrick James Michael HcfCron, aged 18; and Albert John'Higgs, aged 18.

Mr. E. Pago, S.M., was sn the Bench. . Chief-Detective Lopdell prosecuted, Mr. W.vE. Leicester appearing for Coronuo, Gay, and Smith, and Mr. J. Meltzer for Heffron and Higgs. In addition to the George and George charge, Coronno> Smith, and Gay were jointly charged with breaking- and on* tering the shop of John Castle in Biddiford street and stealing goods to tho value of £9 2s, and breaking and entering the warehouse o^ Murray and Forties in Eidaiford street and stealing goods valued at 15s. , t : Gay was separately charged; with breaking and entering the .premises of ■Wrisjley and Kemp in Hospital rtiad and stealing a rule und a fountain pen of a total value of 15s

Detective F. N.; Bobinson said that in company 'with Acting-Detective Harding ho interviewed Coronnoi in Adelaide road late on the night of the 7th instant. Witness told the accused that ■■'the.■police'- had reason to believo that the accused, in company Svith other, youths, had been breaking into places in Newtown. Accused denied this, but 'at the "Wellington South Police Station admitted that the hat and tie he was wearing had been stolen from the shop of George and George They then went to Coronno's house, where they found fifteen handkerchiefs and two pairs of socks which the accused admitted werealso stolen from George and George. Visits were then paid to the houses of Smith and Gay, where more of the stolen property was found, while the detectives: wore also taken to a. house-m •Saining street to recover a suitcase, which contained stolen property. Later, Higgs and Hoffron were interviewed, both aceußed making statements. HIOGS'S STATEMENT. ' In his statement, which was read by 'witness, Higgs said that he was, in the town with Gay, Coronno, and femith on Friday night. He- told the others that h.e-was going to break into the shop of George and Georgo, and they all agreed with him that it would bo all right to get some goods from the shop. Jno particular night was fixed. "I saw the same three men at different times after that, and we discussed the matter further," the statement continued. I told them I was going to do the job between. Wednesday, 15th January, and Sunday, 19th January. During the week I made an appointment, with 'Heffron to meet me at the bottom,of Constable street at 7 R.m. on Sunday, 19th January. He kept the appointment. I had previously told him we would do the job that night.' He agreed to that. "I had previously told the others, Gay, Coronno, and Smith, that I was doing the job one night that, week, and as they- wanted •to come in with me 1 told them : to look out forme '.; any night between Wednesday and • Sunday." ;, ; . ■ , ■' ' - '. Higga continued that ho took a brace J and bit, a saw,' and a torch with him, ' and tifter meeting Heffron they waited ' until about 9. o'clock, when, they went' ■ through the school grounds and climbed over the fence to George and George's. "|Wo got into the basement, through an open door, and I then commenced boring holes through the shop, floor. Heffron had thp torch, and showed mo the light to work b.y. When I had mado a hole large ; enough: to got inside, Heffron said he was not going in, rts it was too risky. Ho then went ( a;way, and J. went into the shop myself through th'o hole I had made in the : floor. 'After I hadrbeeu in the shop for i a few minutes, Gay, Coronno, and Smith came into the shop, through the ■ hole I had mado'in the floor, v. .We ; oach took a bundle of stuff away from tho Bhop." Higgs then gave details : as to what he had done with some of i the stolen property. When he heard • that Coronno, Gay, and Smith had been arrested, ho put all the stolen stuff he ■' had left in a box, and buried the box : under the floor of the shed in his back garden. Heffron's statement was on. similar lines. : ' ,-■:'.'

COMMITTEE FOR SENTENCE. At the conclusion of the evidence, Coronno, Smith, Gay, and Higgs pleaded guilty to the charge in respect of beakiug and entering George . and George 'a, ■ and Heffron not guilty.' The £rst four accused wero committed to 'tlie Supreme Court for sentence, and Heffron was committed for trial. Regarding the other charges, Coronno, Gay, and Smith pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the shop of John Castle, but not guilty to the charge in respect to the warehouse of Murray and Forbes: Gay also pleaded not guilty to breaking, into- the premises Of Wrigley and; Kemp. Mr. Leicester suggested that'in view of the fact thattho accused had pleaded guilty to the major charges and not guilty to what might be termed minor charges, on account of the Bmall amount I involved-, the country might be saved tho.expense of a trial if the charges in respect to Murray and Forbes and Wrigley and Kemp wore allowed' to drop. ■■■■'''■ • Chief-Detective Lopdell said that no doubt the accused could be adequately dealt with on the charges on which'they had pleaded guilty. - The Magistrate agreed with this," and committed the accused for sentence On the charge to which they pleaded guilty, while ho adjourned tho other two cases fin' a fortnight; ■■ . ,