COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 29 November 1927, Page 5

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

CHARGES OF THEFT. (Continued from Page 6). The hearing of the charges of theft against Timothy O’Sullivan, John Henry O’Sullivan and Joseph Daniel Boyle was continued this morning. Constable Campagnola, of Mohaka. stated that he proceeded on .the morning of November 10 to Puterino where he learned that Mr. Saunder’s shop had been broken into. Y itness was first taken into . a room near the stables where he found grocery articles which had the wrappers removed. On going to the store witness s aw one of the accused going towards the hotel from the stables When asked where he had slept the previous night he said: “In the whare near the stables.” He admitted that ho had done so without authority. Ho- then asked witness. “What is the matter? I know nothing about who broke into the store.” Witness then saw another of the accused, who said, “What is all the trouble?” He also admitted having slept in the whare without permission and denied knowing about the store being entered. The third accused gave the same explanations as the other two when questioned as to where he slept on the previous night. He added: “Don’t think we did the store. We wouldn’t have it on our minds. I know who did it. It was two men who came down last night in a car. One of them woke mp up wanting me to have a drink.” Sergeant Wade and Constable Cod dington arrived about midday, witness continued. Before their arrival Boyle told witness that he would know thn men again if he saw them Bovle then asked Jack O’Sullivan what time it would he when th*’came In and the latter renlied • “1 wish that mv brother and T had not been there last night.’’ After reneatinff the question Bovin qn id that 11P thought it WOIIId bn O p’p’nck r-bpn the two men arrived. The three accused were then token over by Sergeant Wade of Wairoa. SUSPTCTOUS DISCOVERIES. Evidence was given by Sergeant Wade, of Wairoa, who stated that when he arrived at Waikare he explained the shop and found that the doors of th© store and stables had been forced. Among some bushes some 49 feet from the room was a linen bag containing groceries. A short distance further away was a canvas bag containing tobacco. In the whare witness found a packet containing shaving cream, the end of which was missing. This was, however, found later in one of Boyle’s pockets. Three tins of matches were found in a wrapper in the linen bag. the rest of the bundle being found later on Boyle. When brought down to Napier the three accused were charged with being illegally in the room, to which they were all willingly prepared to plead guilty.

STATEMENTS TAKEN. In evidence Detective Sergeant Butler stated that he took a statement from Boyle who could not account for. the missing part of the cardboard wrapper being found on him. He denied having anything to do with the burglary saying he first learned of it the next day. A further statement by John Henrv O’Sullivan was read. Detective Sergeant Butler, con’tinning, said that after the statements were taken the three accused were put in a cell together. Later witness told them that in addition to beir\g charged with being on the premises near the stables at ♦Vaikare store tli ?y would be charged with entering Saunders’ store ami with the thefi of his goods. He further informed them that he bad taken stateme t< from each vi wl icb they cont radio I each other on most vital points. To this they just laughed and made no reply. All three ileaded not guilty and were commit ?d for trial at the r<< xt sitting of <1 Supreme Court at Napier on Feb-’iniv r ' t next.