THEFT AT LEVIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4411, 6 February 1930, Page 2

THEFT AT LEVIN.

MAORI YOUTH COMMITTED

FOR TRIAI

At the Levin Police Court on Tuesday William Broughton, aged lit years, was charged that on or about Kith January, 1930, he did break and enter the shop in Queen Street of Thomas Kilpin with intent to commit u crime; also that en 3rd February he did again break and enter the same premises and steal therefrom the sum of ten shillings in money. Thomas Kilpin said that he was a tobacconist carrying on business ii, Queen Street. On the 10th January last he left -his shop at 10.45 [i.iii., when it was securely locked tind everything was in order. At about (5.45 a.m. the following morning he found the front door of the shop had been broken open and the till was on Die tloor and the eontents scattered about the floor. The till contained between £ft and .C 7, all in silver and coppers. The till was not difficult to remove, being a sliding drawer under tin* counter and had no lock on it. On this eeeasion nothing was missing. On Sunday, 2nd February, just before 7 p.m. witness was in his shop and left it securely locked. At about, 5.1 f» a.m. the following morning he was informed the shop door was broken open. He went to the premises and found the door had been forced. The catch of the lock was broken night off and tin* wood work splintered off the door. The door had been repaired after the previous break. On examination lie louud Die till open and ten shillings, mostly in threepenny pieces, missing.

Constable Bagrie, . giving evidence, said Dial on Monday mom log Mr. Kilpin reported lo him that his shop had been broken into during the previous night and that, ten shillings, all in silver and mostly in threepenny pieces, was missing from the till. Kilpin had also reported on 17lh January that his shop door had been broken open. On Monday al nine o'clock he met Die accused in Oxford St. and questioned him as to his whereabouts on Sunday night and he replied Dint lie had been out at ITokio Beach and did not come into Levin until 7.3 ft on Monday morning. Asked if lie had any n.onev accused said lie had 2/- and

asked to produce it. lie put. his hand into inis pocket and showed witness 23, and said this was all the money he. had. Witness then asked aeeused to turn out everything: lie had in his pockets. Besides the two shillings produced lie had .17 threepenny pieces. Fie asked him to come to the Police Station and on the way he said he might as well tel) the truth and made a statement (produced) in which he admitted the charges. The accused pleading guilty to both charges, was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.

A FARMHOUSE RANSACKED. When Mr. A. S. Horn, of Die Kuku, relurned home on Monday afternoon, after being away haymaking, lie found that Die house had been ransacked and Dial some of Die contents wen* missing. These included an oullil of clothes, amongst which was a good suit, also a shot gun and cartridges, and Iwo signed cheques. There was also evidence that the shot gun had been cut down. A lad employed on lln* farm could no! he found, and search is being made for him by the police. One of the cheques for a small amount is understood lo have been cashed in Mana'kau, and it is considered that the suspected lad is making southward. — Chronicle.