BIG THEFT CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 22 September 1932, Page 5

BIG THEFT CHARGES

POLICE WITNESS IS DECLARED TO BE HOSTILE. (Per Press Association — Copyright ) WELDINGiTON, Sept. 21'. Edwin George Valentine Roberts, aged 23, and Raymond Patrick Letton, aged 26, were charged at the Magistrate’s Court, with breaking and entering iLauohllan’s Ltd., and stealing jeu cilery, of ia value of £317 19s Gd. Letton was further charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of ISohneiderman and Sons, and stealing clothing worth £l2l 15s. The case for the polite took an unexpected turn when one of their witnesses, Gordon Frederick Miller, who was in charge of a half-ton truck left behind at Eauelilan’s shop, was declared by Mr Page, S.M., to be hostile. Asked how he (accounted for the truck being at the scene of the crime, he said he could not account for it, and it must have been stolen. Neither of the accused had been in his truck as far ns he knew.

DetectiverSergeant Rovell said the police had been acting on definite Information by tills witness. Mr Page instructed Mr Rovell that he could pit any portions of the witness’s sfcatemepi to the witness, *

Mr Rovell proceeded accordingly, and put it to witness that he was associating with these two men at the time tine offence was committed. Witness: “Certainly not.”

When similar denials were mad© to other questions, JMr Page said: “Miller, you obviously ,are not telling the truth. Well, these statements can be checked, and 'I want you to understate!dl sour position. If it is found that you are withholding the truth, or not telling the whole truth; I will direct you 'be prosecuted for perjury.” In .answer to counsel for Letton, Miller said that Mr Revel! and Detectives Smith and Ritchie had got him out of bed at tw r o o’clock on the morning of June 27th., and asked him to account for the track being at the scene of the crime. He was taken to the detective office, where he remained till ten o’clock in the morning. Another hold-up occurred when the brother of 'Miller, at present serving a term of burglary, said 1 la statement made by him to the police recently in connection with the matter, was not true.