JEWELLERY THEFT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 89, 12 October 1934, Page 14

JEWELLERY THEFT

CHARGES AT AUCKLAND

MAN AND WOMAN IN COURT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 11. Jewellery valued at nearly £1400 was displayed in the Magistrate's Court today when several charges relating to burglary from the shop of James Pascoe, Ltd., Karangahape Koad, on September 20 ■were heard before Mr. Wyveru Wilson, S.M. ■. James MeQuoid, blacksmith and butcher, aged 25/ was charged with breaking and entering the premises of James Pascoe and stealing jewellery of a tola] value of £1378 lUs Oil. lie was also charged with receiving the same quantity of jeweller)' on September 2S knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. A third charge was of receiving a gold wristlet watch valued at &7 10s from Hilda Jackson, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Hilda Jackson, a domestic, aged 33, was .charged with receiving jewellery valued at £1378 10s 9d, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. Alfred Pascoe, manager of the Karangahape Eoad branch of James Pascoe, Ltd., said that as a result of a message from the police he went to his 'shop early in, the morning and found that the premises had been ransacked and .jewellery and repairs valued at £1545 3s 3d taken. Witness identified jewellery produced, in court as part of (ho quantity stolen, lie said its value was £1378; and the value of the jewellery not yet discovered was £107. Apparently entrance had been effected through a trapdoor which had been forced, and exit had been made through a rear door. A licensed second-hand dealer, Horace Robinson, said that in answer to a telephone call on September 2S ho went to 100 Kelson Street, where he met the femalo accused. She stated that she had some jewellery to sell, and -made an appointment for witness to call again that evening. When he returned she stated that she required £200 for the jewellery, which she brought in a pil-low-case from another room. Various articles were spread out on sheets of newspaper, and while he was examining them thcro was a knock at the door. Shortly afterwards two detectives burst into the room.

Detective-Sergeant Mcllugh said that the house was surrounded, and thefemalo accused answered the door, but refused to open it, and the detectives had to force a way in through a window. .

"There does not seem to me to be any -evidence to convict McQuoid on a charge of breaking and entering," said the Magistrate, after- further evidence had been heard. "As far as the charge of receiving a large quantity of jewellery i 3 concerned, it seems that the jewellery was in possession of the woman, and that is not enough evidence to send McQuoitl for trial on the second charge either." The two first charges against McQuoid were dismissed. He pleaded guilty to a charge of receiving a watch, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Jackson pleaded net guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused for both accused.