THEFTS ADMITTED

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 28, 3 February 1932, Page 8

THEFTS ADMITTED

TWO MEN 'CAUGHT

AN AUTOMATIC CARRIED

"A SERIOUS MATTER"

Arrested behind the Community, Stores, Johnsonville, early on the morning of 20 th January, William Johnson,; an. enginedriver, aged 30, and Arthur Albert Clayton, a blacksmith, aged 22^' appeared at thY Police Gourt: to-day be-" fore. Mr.-"E. Page, • 5.M.,: and pleaded guilty./to four summary charges , and. three.charges of breaking, entering and theft: Johnson also'/ admitted that\n» had. had' an "automatic pistol unlaw-" fully, in-his possession../. ~-'",■•■■•■.■':■;.:■ : .-: ;

. Detective-Sergeant ■ Bevell said. that :on 20th,January, Constable Tocher,"of Johnsonyille', was patrollingthe' township;' shortly 'after' - midnight/ when"' he^ noticed the two accused going behin,d, 'the Community.. Stores*. The constable followed ,therii and .arrived in time1 to see Johnson, putting, on;a pair of, rubber '.gloves.. He took1 the .two men'to the Central' Police, Station: 'On return-^ ing'to Johnsonville he made'a search'at the place where the accused 'weraarrested, and found a; canvas bag 'containing ' , h'ousebr'eaking;,'.'- instruments.' Later, .Detective Ritchie made:' anothei;' search and found an: automatic" pistof loaded with four- cartridges, one of thein...bejng-an the .breach,.ready.,foij firing.; I,Johnson admitted*, that :&e\ had. been carrying the pistol. When the police searched the; accused's room at jPetone:'th'ey-;?fo;uiid'mor| icartridgeg; .' ""We look on ■thia'asa very -serious .matter, indeed," said' Mr. Revell. "The carrying,; of firearm a "Would probably* result in the 'death'of a'coristable or anyone else: who interfered with ahyous who was carrying them.'? ■ - .-... - \ ; Detective;,. BeveU; said;,'that Johnsoa had . been ■• convicted 'iri : Australia, for iorse-stealing.,- ? and,''larceny. "Clayton had ,been, convicted; in .1929 for theftand admitted, to" probation. - '' , ; The'two accused admitted they hacT broken- into shops at Johnsonville' Eke-^ tahuna, and Feathers'ton, and had stolen: goods, to : the .value of ,j8.68 '15s 2d.Mr. Pago said,that Johnson was ih^ elder of the two, and :as far as one' could gather , f rdm-,their - statements" to tho police, Jie was the-ringleader. sentenced .Johnson/to twelve months'^ imprisonment for being a rogue and, vagabond in that he was found unlawfully m possession o£ housebf eakine in^struments, arid. to. threei months Vimpri-' sonment for having! an autpmatie piator unlawfully m his possession. Mr.-Pago; made the terms cumulative. Claytoawas sentenced to six months' imprisonment t ior being a rogue ; and vagabond. On two further- joint charges invOlv. ing the theft of a crowbar, and the conversion of a motor-car, the accused were - sentenced' tor threes months', imi' prisoDßient'. These': 'sentences' '"wer'* 5 made concurrent' with the first. : v Tne, accused were aIBO-.charged -"W-itK being- rogue's- and vagabonds* in that they were found' without lawful excuse! on the premises of Community Stores but this was withdrawn. '■"'-■ ' ■-' :;

The pistol and ammunition -were confiscated. .;■.• ..' '■.'..' ' ."_,. ...... '; .: :

The accused were committed to th* Supreme Court for sentence on the* three charges of breaking, enterin/ - and theft.