CROUCHER IN THE DOORWAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1262, 6 February 1930, Page 8

CROUCHER IN THE DOORWAY

WERE THEY MIDNIGHT RAIDERS?

Systematic Thefts Alleged Against Two Ex -Constables and An Artist

MYSTERIOUS BURGLARIES, BUT NO CLUE

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.)

' ( Mysterious entries m the night hours of the premises of C. Smith, Ltd., m Cuba | 1 Street, Wellington, from which quantities of goods were stolen, were the basis of the I | police case preferred against three men who appeared before Mr. E. Page, S.M. on | | charges of breaking and entering^ and theft. N. '' . I | The three men concerned are Joseph Maurice White, aged 28, Hugh Robert Steven- I | son, aged 27, and Wilfred Leonard Ramm, aged 28. . , | | Up to the time of his arrest, Stevenson was a member of the police force, while § | Ramm was a constable up to within a few weeks of his arrest. White is described as | 1 an artist. Pleading not guilty, the three men were committed for trial. ♦ 1 5 \ ' '■ 1 ■ ! § S ..:.. . . .' ■ , \ ■ . ■ \ ' ~ iniiiiMiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiniiiMiiiiiiiMiiiniiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiniiniiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiMiiniiiiiniiiiiiniiiniiiiniiiMiiniiiiiiMiiiiuiiiniiiuiiiiiM

THEY were jointly charged that on various dates between June 26 and December 17 they did break and enter the premises of C. Smith, Ltd., Cuba Street, Wellington, and steal clothing to the value of £166/18/8. , On a further count, White was charged with being found at 1 a.m. on December 17 m possession of a Skeleton key and an electric, torch; He .was aiso charged that on the same;, date he entered; the premises of C. Smith, Ltd . with intent to commit a crime. Stevenson was also ' charged separately' with receiving between June 25 and December 17 and on or, about ' June 25, from White and Ramm;' articles to the value of £17/15/-, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained.' John Sheedv stated that •on ■ .Depemb'er 16 he visited the shop of C. Smith,Ltd., at various times up till 1 a.m., finding everything m order. On his last visit he heard a key being turned m the central door, and on investigation he found a man standing inside the door, which was open. He spoke to the man, whom he now realised to be White. . White said that on seeing the koy m the door he, had opened it to 3oe who was inside. The key was, then handed over ,to Sheedy, ; Svhp i; accompanied White to " the police station. Here the matter was explained to Sergeant Bonisch, White remaining m charge. Sergeant Bonisch said that on the night Sheedy brought White to him. White kept saying: "I have done nothing." It 'being found that the key wou'a fit all three front doors of Smiths shop. Sergeant Bonisch Informed White thnt he lntended/.to lay a charges against him. ""'■ ;"¥ , V , '^i-.f,^- ."■' White replied: : •"You onn't do. that. I have done nothing. I found the key m the door." He also allegedly said thnt he hart clone it to save the constable on the beat. In White's pocket a torch "Was found, which, he explained, was uaed to eet up the stairs to' V>is flat. Constable "Fleming said that on V": night of December' 16, at 11.35, he rame upon White, whom he knew wnll. m ' a crouching attitude •m McDuff's doorway. When ;r caught' he "laughed and the nmHor passed off 'as a joke. Horace Smith, managing dh-ector of »h« firm of C. Smith. Ltd., examined certain m-tioles of clothing produced m "nnrt and said they were similar to goods stocked by his firm. None of the accused, he- snid, ha* any authority -syhatsoeyer to be on the premises, and the possession of. sucn a key as Stevenson had was also unauthorised. ■•'' • ' • He was certain that the stockinet iv\d mf r.f>tnp f'-oxn ha nVion. In som^ of the shirt's the label had b"»" >n» »ut anfl m one case the label still apriehrefl. Annir of p-|nvf»s p^n lin-/> '• '■■• f.r-rry't! jpirlc ,rmf\ ''.' .f (i'lr -' hn+«s or>"ld 1*;?

Detective Jarrold described how he had searched White's flat. When he enquired whore several ■ of the articles had been obtained White allegedly said that a friend had bought them from a warehouse and that both the warehouse and the friend would get into trouble if the fact became, known. He stated that any articles bearing the brand of C. Smith, Ltd., had been bought at the shop. In reply to enquiries from the detective, Stevenson said that he had known White for quite a long time. He had received nothing from White and they might "search his room as he had nothirt'g to-be afraid of. 1 : : iArti^les of clothing were found m Ms. rbom with the brands removed,

Presided over the lower court proceedings. Mr. E. Page, S.M. said the detective. Stevenson said he had bought the blue check shirt at Hooson's, and did not know the brand was off. The lumber jacket was bought at Ross and Glendinings. Subsequent enquiries elicited that these, articles had not been stocked by the firms mentioned. When confronted with this he admitted his former statement as untrue and made a further statement. •.. Stevenson was arrested and charged with receiving from White and Ramm. Later, Detective Jarrold, m company with Detective McLennan, viaiteda house m Mortimer . Terrace where Ramm was residing. On hearing that ,both White and Stevenson were under arrest and that there Svas reason to believe that ?ie had m his possession some goods .stolen from C. Smith, Ltd., he at first denied

the charge, alleged the detect! ve. : When informed that a aearoh warrant had been issued he allegedly said: "There is no need for you to search. It is quite all right. I ( have some stuff that ,was 'stolen from Smith's and if you will allow me I will hand it all over to you." „ The detective further alleged that Ramm'i said the goods had been stolen by White! while he was on night duty prior to his marriage about three months previously. When Stevenson was confronted with Ramm'B alleged admission, remarked the detective, he said "Ramm was a liar." On December 19 Detective Jarrold saw White and ,,, informed him that Stevenson and Ramm had been arrested for theft and, that, it was believed a large quantity^ of the goods taken from his (White's) flat had been stolen from Smiths. /Before making a statement White, said the detective, desired to know what the other two 'had said as he did not wish to get anyone into trouble. "They are trying to put all the blame on to me," he allegedly declared when the statements were read to. him.' "I did not wish to get them Into trouble, but I will make a statement showing what part ! tppk m this matter." Concerning the key which the police alleged they had found m his- room, Stevenson's explanation was that it was a. "found" of unclaimed key which had been left at the Taranaki : police station and that he had adapted the key to fit the strongroom door ,for the purpose of obtaining access :to 'the stationery kept there, " : Detective McLennan corroborated, the evidence of Detective Jarrold. ' A plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of all three accused, who 'reserved their defence and were committed for trial. Bail was refused.