BOXBOROUGH BEFORE THE COURT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2334, 24 September 1921, Page 3

BOXBOROUGH BEFORE THE COURT.

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE.

At the Palmerston Police Court Charles Henry Roxborough, who recently escaped from the Palmerston gaol, and who was recaptured by Constable, O’Donoghue in the Bainesse district on Wednesday, was called upon to answer eight indictable charges as follows :

(1) That on June Bth he did steal a suitcase and contents, valued at £l2 2s Gd, the property of Rev. J. C. Abbott, of Shannon; (2) That on August 31st he did break and enter the shop of W r . A. Lankshear, at Tokomaru, and steal therefrom £9 in money;

(3) That between May 20th and August 24th, 1921, at Tokomaru, he did by day break and enter the dwellinghouse of Mrs D. G. Finnerty, and did steal blankets and other articles of the total value*of £4 4s; (4) That on August 29th, at Makerua, he did by day break and enter the .shop of Charles Nordell and steal a metal watch and chain, valued at £5 10s;

(5) That on dr about September 14th, at. Makerua, he did break and enter the dwellinghouse of Charles Nordell, and did steal a razor and various articles of a total value of £.l;

(0) That on or about September 14th, at Shannon, he did break and enter by night the shop of Wm. 11. Gunning, and did steal a coat and various oilier articles of a total value of £SO Os;

(7) That on September 10th he did by day break and enter the dwelling of Robert Coley, at Shannon, aTnd did steal an electric torch value 12s, and a piece of meat value Is fid.

(8) That on September 13th, at Palmerston North, being in lawful custody on charge of a punishable offence, lie did escape from such custody.

Senior-Sergeant Fraser prosecuted, and each case was heard separately. Accused was not defended. Evidence was given by a number of witnesses, and accused pleaded guilty to each charge, and was committed for sentence.

The accused was further charged with the theft of various articles of clothing from Mr Gunning’s store at Tokomaru, during the past six months. To this charge a plea of not guilty was entered.

William Edward Lovdon, manager of Mr Gunning's store, staled that various articles of clothing produced, valued at £5, had not been bought by the accused. Constable McGregor said that he found the property mentioned in this charge in the accused’s room at Tokomaru. Accused stated then that they had been bought at sales by him. When questioned regarding the various sizes of the collars, shirts, etc., accused made no reply.

Accused, giving evidence on his own behalf, made a statement to the effect that he had bought several pairs of gloves from Mr Gunning’s store at the same time.

To two further charges of the theft of a race game, valued at £4, the property of Mr Lankshear, and of unlawfully converting to his own use a bicycle belonging to Colin Lewis when he elleeted his escape from custody, Roxborough pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment On each of these charges, and on the charge of theft of the clothing to three months’ imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent.

To a further charge that, on September 17th, he did unlawfully convert to his own use a motorcycle, the property of William Adams, the accused pleaded not guilty. Constable Shannon and the owner of the car gave evidence, the former stating that he recognised accused as the rider of a motor cycle proceeding in the direction of Wellington. The Bench held that the evidence was not strong enough to warrant a committment, and dismissed the case.