COURT NEWS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 261, 20 November 1939, Page 2

COURT NEWS

YOUNG MAN CHARGED BREAKING AND ENTERING CONVERSION OF CAR ACCUSED PLEIADS GUILTY COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE At the Opotiki Police Court' on Friday afternoon, before Messrs. J. T. Merry. and TV. T. Jlurrett, J.P’s., a young man, Raymond George Shopherd, was charged with breaking and entering the premises of: the Farmers’ Trading Co., Opotiki, and stealing chocolates and tinned fruit tos the value of 14/3. Shepherd was further charged with converting a car to, liifi. own use at Onohunga on November loth. ’ Sergeant J. Isbister prosecuted, and in outlining the* ease said that accused, ill company with two companions who would) appear later in the Children’s Court, left Auckland in a converted can and arrived in Opotiki on Friday morning. While one was away the other two broke in the Farmers’ premises. They left Opotiki and when 2() miles away ran out of benzine and started to walk. Their intention was to go to the exhibition at Wellington. Al : r. T. Hill, in evidence said ho was employed at the Farmers’ Trading Co., n*j manager of *tho Cash and. Carry Department of the company at Opotiki. He locked up the premises securely on Thursday night. When he returned! to work on Friday morning lie found a window had been broken, and an attempt made to force the door. A piece of glass where the window had prvicrusly been broken had been taken out and a hole left l:hg enough for a man to get through. The steel and woodwork around the lock ha<l| been damaged by some instrument. There was an iron bar at the hack of the door and it would have been very hard for anyone to have got in. Chocolates and tins of fruit had been taken. When asked if he wished to question the witness, accused expressed the opinion that the hole in the window was not big enough for a inan to get. in. Constable W. A. Rathie, stated that on Fridfciy at 7.30 a.m., acting on information received, he went to the Waioeka Gorge. Near Okiore he saw n small Alorris ear on tin* side of the road. It appeared to be abandoned. He went on up the gorge another six miles and there he saw the accused with two companions, walking towards Gisborne. He asked them where they were going, and they said to Gisborne to get work. Witness asked them il they hail -stolen the car which was on the side of the road. They denied! having had anything to do with it. He noticed one of them—not the accused —had a screwdriver in his vest pocket, He asked where he got the screwdriver and and was told from off the running board of the, car. Witnessdetained the three andl brought them hack to the police station. The accused when, sea relied had nothing in his pocket. One of accused’s companions had a hacksaw' and hammer. The accused then made a statement afterhaving been duly warned. Witness then read the statement, in which accused said lie had known cue of his companions for two years and the other for six months. They had decided to go to the exhibition to get a job. They saw a Alorris car which they drove down through the Hauraki to Opotiki. After stopping in front of the Farmers’ they pulled a board from off a window which had been previously broken. A screwdriver was used on the door but they could not 'get in. He'had never previously been in trouble. ' /v Accused said lie bad untiling to say and pleaded guilty to Dotli charges. The* bench committed tin* accused to the Auckland Supreme Court for .sentence. CHILDREN'S COURT Two youths who were involved iit the conversion of a. motor-car and theft from the Farmers’ Trading (<>.- appeared before the Children’s Court. At. the request of Sergeant Isbister. both were remanded to. appear before* the Auckland Children’s Court.