BREAKING AND ENTERING

Otago Witness, Issue 4031, 16 June 1931, Page 68

BREAKING AND ENTERING

WELLINGTON SHOPS RAIDED TOBACCO AND OTHER GOODS STOLEN. WELLINGTON, June 10. In the Magistrate’s Court James Cherrie, a labourer, aged 26, who was jointly charged with James-Baldwin, aged 35, with breaking and entering the shop of the Star Stores, Ltd., and stealing tobacco and other articles valued at £l5 Is 2d. He was also charged with being in possession of explosives without sufficient purpose.

Sub-inspector Ward intimated that sufficient gelignite had been found in the accused’s possession to blow open two safes. After hearing the evidence of Detective Murray the magistrate committed the accused to the Supreme Court for trial. Cherrie was granted bail on a bond of £2OO, with a surety of £2OO. An application for bail made by Baldwin was refused. A plea of guilty was entered by Mr T. P. McCarthy on behalf of John Albert Lawlor, a taxi driver, aged 23, who was charged with breaking and entering the shop of Frank Louden, of Miramar, and stealing tobacco and other goods valued at £2O 2s Bd. Leslie John 'Withers, a taxi driver, aged 23, who was jointly charged with the offence, pleaded not guilty. Detective Harding said that Withers admitted that he had some of the stolen goods in his possession, but he said they were given to him by Lawlor. Lawlor, interviewed, said he had met Withers at Kilbirnie Post Office. They had dfiven in Lawlor’s taxi to the shop and together they had broken into it. Withers, who was committed for trial, was granted bail on a bond of £2OO, with a surety of £2OO. Bail was refused in the case of Lawlor, who was committed for sentence.