ROBBERY AND ARSON

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1929, Page 3

ROBBERY AND ARSON

THREE MEN CHARGED

(By Telegraph—Fress Association)

WELLINGTON. March 13

Charges of robbery and arson at the shop of Robert Young Shearer. Ltd.. Lower Hutt, were proceeded with in the Lower Court to-day, against Thomas Gordon, Richard Ryan, and George Wilfred Ryan, who with Arthur Henry William Bevnn, were arrested in connection with the mail robbery on the Waliine.

The Managing Director of Shearers said that when he left the shop at 5.30 on January 10, there was no sign of fire. He received a telephone message at 3 a.m. and went to the shop where tlie Mercery Department had been damaged by fire. There had been about ten fires in the shop, and the damage "’as estimated at £1775. Another member of the firm said that about £9O worth of stock had been taken from the mercery and drapery departments, and .a- member of the fire brigade gave evidence that none of the fires disclosed how they originated. Detective Jan-old, who visited tlie shop, spoke of finding a broken pane of glass and matches strewn about. On 20tli February in company with Detective Sergeant Tricklehank, he arrested the three accused, and recovered from the house were Gordon and Revan lived, articles which had been identified by Shearer. Detective Jarrold said when he visited Ryan’s house, he found various articles, and Ryan said he knew the game was up. He also said he know the stuff was crook when he got it from Gordon, and had been worried about it ever since it was there. In a statement made at the Detective Office, Gordon said he and G. Ryan went out to Taita in R. Ryan’s car on the night Cl January 19th, and after having consumed liquor there, they knocked about, for a while and then set off for Wellington. G. Ryan was to drunk to drive, and when in the main road at Lower Hutt, he left Ryan in the car and broke into Shearer’s shop and took the goods. He gave the Ryans and Bevan some of the goods. He did not set fire to the shop. He had used wax matches. Detective-Sergeant Tricklehank gave evidence. Air Leicester, counsel for all the accused, submitted that there was n<> case against tlje Rvans, and the charges against them should be dismissed. Richard Ryan was committed to the Supreme Court lor trial. Gordon was, committed for sentence on the charge of burglary to which lie pleaded guilty and for trial .on the charge of arson, which he denied. Bevan was committed 'for trial on the charge of receiving stolen goods. George Wilfred Ryan was committed for trial on charges of robbery and arson.