BURGLARY AND ARSON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3027, 24 April 1926, Page 2

BURGLARY AND ARSON.

FOUR MEN PLEAD GUILTY. Dannevirke, April 23. Mr. iL \V. Dwyer, S.M., had a busy day at Ormondville yesterday, hearing a series of charges against four defendants, involving theft, breaking, and entering, and also arson. Albert Graham Gleeson, Herbert Gleeson, and William Henry Thomas were charged with having on February 14 last wilfully set fire to a store at Norsewood belonging to John Stanley Mathias, draper. From the evidence it appeared that the accused visited the shop late at night, and stole various articles, which they carriad away in two sacks, and afterwards divided. The police evidence . was to the effect that each had made a voluntary written confession. Thomas admiteil having set lire to the premises and the Gleeson brothers allegedly discussed ways and means of covering up the signs of the burglary. The stock and effects in the premises were valued at £4500, and the building at £ISOO, while the insurance on the stock was £3OOO and on the building £ll2O. Thomas pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The G'leeson brothers pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial. Bail was refused. Thomas admitted charges of theft from various places of motor tools valued at £B, a tarpaulin at £ls, a motor tyre and rim at £7, and a rug at £3. On these charges he ’was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on. The Gleeson brothers and Thomas admitted the! heft of carpenters’ tools valued at £l2, and horse covers valued at £4. They also admitted on February 14, at Norsewood, breaking and entering the shop of John Stanley Mathias and stealing clothing and boots valued at £SO; on February 19, at Takapau, breaking and entering the shop of Leslie Ilatuma Janett and stealing motor tyres, cdeerie bulbs, and accessories valued at £BO. The Gleesons and Thomas also admitted other theft charges, and on all the theft and burglary charges they were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Hans Hansen, who participated in the burglary and theft of horse covers, was admitted to probation for twelve months, and was ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution. Much of the stolen property was recovered by the police on the-Glee-sons’ premises when a search warrant was executed.