MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1930, Page 4

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

FRIDAY JANUARY 31st. i (Before Messrs G. A. Perry and M. J H. Houston, Justices.) -il ALLEGED THEFT. The Police charged a young man that between September Ist. 1927 and Le.ember loth. 1927 he did break awl enter the dwelling house of Arthurs W. Yarrall and steal one jewel case containing a large quantity of jewellery, seven sovereigns, a half sovereign, nine £1 notes and 10s in silver cu a total value of £149. Mr Sellers appeared for the defendant, and Detective Mulch for the Police. Jeanne Yarrall, wife of A. W. Yarrall gave evidence that she , resided at Stafrord street -Hokitika, was from tlie house on Friday afternoon 2nd September * 1927 and the follow-

ing Saturday afternoon and evening. On the Sunday went to bed sick, and was confined to bed for about ten days. Left the house on Thursday, week for about a quarter of an hotir, When she returned she went to some ’ money from a jewel box in hejfcs duchess, and the box was gone. Search- V ed the house but found ho trace of it. Last saw the box on the Thursday prior to the Sunday when 'she'' 1 went to bed. Stie had had no occasion to go to it between that timep a|id y the time she discovered' the' lose.-’When absent from the house, the back door was unlocked)- and -the windows would be open. The jewel box was of imitation! leather, with brass handles, and was locked, the key being, in a little box iri the same 'drawer, It was about 9 inches . long, about 41) inches wide. R contained a large nuinber of articles of jewellery (detailed) and other articles mentioned iii the charge. She knew accused. He had no authority to'

go into her house, or to‘ remove anything from it. “ - l ‘ : Arthur William Yarrhti gave evidence that he was the husband of previous witness. He gave the of the jewellery when making a' coih plaint to the police. The total valutas £149 is approximately correct. . Detective Murch gave evidence that j on December 17th, last he interviewed accused in respect to a breaking and entering and theft from Yarrall’B house. In reply to questions he stated he was the person responsible. Obtained a statement from him which ho read over, said was correct, and which, he signed Statement produced. This stated that lie entered the house by a window. Took a jewel..box from a duchess. look it down to. tHe ; wharf - and threw it into the river. Had before that tried to open the box, but could not do so. The' box was heavy and rattled. Witness continued that he asked accused to show the place on the wharf from which lie threw the box in the river. The accused took Constable Drummond and witness to tne edge of the wharf almost opposite the Red Lion Hotel, which, he indicat-

ed as the spot from, jvbjcli he threw the box into the river. He also indicated another spot where he had gone under the wharf to endeavour to open the box, . He : jaifl he threw the box; 10 to lo'yards out into the river. Sergt. King gave evidence that .about- lQfch.. |Jai|. jipd -..a’,- conversation, with' accused: Told ' him he had ' seen his admission, and asked him if it wer« true. He said yes it was true. Said,

do you expect us to believe you threw* that'stuff ovefboard'." He said “yes he d.. Asked , where ,he threw it overboard and he said just close to that coal heap on the wharf,. about fifteen' feet out from the wharf. Ee said he H-wew it overboard because he got frightened and lost his nerve. He did try to open it but did not manage it. It was heavy and .rattled. On 16th. January witness searched the bottom,' of the river at dead low water, a distance Of, a, chain on either side og the coal dump, fully, 30 feet ..from the wharf, out to mid-stream-. Raked thd bottom but failed to find, anything. Tiie river has silted up in that locality about a couple of feet. The bottom of '• the-river at the present time is very hard. There have been numerous heavy floods since the .thefjt occurred. Constable Randall I. evidence that on 17th, Jan. at dead low water 'he searched the bottom of the river adjacent to the; coal heap on the wharf. Had a pronged fork and rake, but found no .trace of the missing jewel box. .He thought, it' would be almost impossible .to recover ’ the jewel box under the conditions of the river in i.ood during the past /two' years. This was the U for the prosecution. •• . The accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, and was cotAj. mitted to the Supreme Court iM trial. '

A FURTHER CHARGE. The police further charged accused with the theft of £5, the property of A. R. Thompson. Defendant elected to be dealt with as an indictable offence and pleaded - not guilty. Detective Murcli asked; for a; remand, to enable a witness to be brought front Bruce Bay, A remand was granted for eight days. Bail-was allowed in. occused in £SO and one surety of £SO. d An order was made at the request of counsel for the name of accused to be suppressed meanwhile,