CHARGES ADMITTED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 114, 12 April 1940, Page 2

CHARGES ADMITTED.

COMMITTAL FOR SENTENCE. In the Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, before Messrs G. N. Hanson and N. Bfackmore, J.P.’s, four charges were preferred against William Eric Cooper, alias William Henry Cooper, aged 35. labourer, of no fixed abode. Pleas of guilty were entered in each case and after the hearing of e'videnee accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. The charges were of breaking and entering and theft at Rangiotu and Longburn, and theft at Wanganui and Levin. Detective-Sergeant A. 13. Meiklejohn conducted the prosecution. Evidence was given by C. N ' Rose, storekeeper, at Rangiotu that during his absence on March 25 the premises were entered, apparently by forcing the window with a spade. Witness identified tins of cigarettes and matches, also cigarette papers, in Court as those which had been stolen from the premises. Blood was discovered in the shop and in practically every room of the dwelling, a window pane having been shattered. About 5s was missing from the till and a moneybox had been stolen. G. W. Chamberlain, a farmer residing at the corner of Walker’s Road and the main Palmerston North-Longburn highway, stated that on March 26 he was absent from the house during the morning, his wife also being away. During the afternoon, on her return, it- was found that a watch and chain were missing from a dressing table. However, nothing was disarranged in the house. Witness identified a watch, chain and pendant produced as his own, the value being £5. T. R. Hall, of Levin, identified a lady’s bicycle, produced, as his property, which had been removed without authority. Witness had discovered outside his gate another bicycle (produced in Court). Detective W. R. Fell gave evidence of apprehending accused while pushing a lady’s red cycle at Bainesse. recovering from his person the goods produced, also certain currency. Accused had admitted breaking into the store at Rangiotu. Accused in statements (produced) admitted the theft of the two bicycles, goods from the store, and watch, chain and pendant Accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence as stated.