ALLEGED BURGLARY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 16 September 1916, Page 7

ALLEGED BURGLARY.

- BROWNING COMMITTED FOR ' TRIAL. | I At the Stratford Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, George Browning appeared before Mr W. R. Haseltlcn, S.M., to answer to charges of breaking, entering, and theft. Mr A. H. Johnstone appeared for accused, and Sergeant Dale conducted the ease on behalf of the Police. On thn application of the Police. the original charges against Barlow and Browning of breaking, entering, and theft, from Bert. Harkness' engineering premises were withdrawn. Tlie informations preferred against Browning were as follows: j That he did on or about June 15, break and enter a sample room attached to the County Hotel, situated in Broadway, Stratford, and steal therefrom six white towels, two pairs pyjamas, four dozen handkerchiefs, six pairs of men's braces, comb I and brush, two white towels, two 'packets small white towels, of tho , total value of £4 4s Bd, the property of McEldownie Bros., merchants, of Wanganui. That be did on or about June 15, break and enter the shop of Robert Henry White, draper, Broadway, i Stratford, and steal therefrom one brown tweed suit, one white scarf, two pairs long stockings, one grey tweed cap, one green canvas bag, one white shirt, and 3s Gd in silver, of the total value of £4 7s. That he. did between 5 p.m. on 'June 24 and S a.m. on June 2G. break 1 and enter the engineering premises of I Bertrim George Harkness, situated in Juliet Street, Stratford, and steal therefrom, one revolver, a quantity of ball bearings, two shot gun parts, one motor bicycle tube, one plate gauge, of the total value of £3 3s. That be did on or about Juno 24, steal one King Dick spanner, one motor car patch outfit, one reel sticking plaster, of the total value of 10s 6d, the property of Dr. Steven. • That he did steal on or about June 24, two acetylene gas generators, one oil stone, a quantity of carbide,, one King Dick spanner, one pair pliers, of the total value of £3 2s, the property of Dr. Paget. That he did on or about Junt 24 steal one tin prepared wax, one motor car tube, of the total value of £2 4s 6d, the property of John Davidson. Sergeant Dale asked permission to add to the charges eleven ties stolen from MeEldownie Bros, sample rooms, this* was granted.' THE SAMPLE ROOMS. John Doig Scott, traveller for McEldownie Bros., said that on June 15 he had the lease of one of the County Hotel sample rooms. The goods displayed included collars, felt hats, towels, pyjamas, handkerchiefs, men's braces, brushes.and combs,, apd neck ties'; The rooms were locked, up at ,j).2!§ p.mtj and; the, windows were also barred. On returning at 8.10 on the following morning, the door was found to be locked, but the samples were all disarranged, and one of the windows was down from the top. Two soft felt hats were missing. The ,; < witness identified a felt hat. ties, handkerchiefs, towels in Court) as portion of his firm's property. No one had authority to enter the rooms.

WHITE'S DRAPERY. Robert Henry White, draper, said that on the night of June 15, lie locked up his hop at the usual time, between 5.30 and 6 o'clock. The green bag produced in Court was similar to those stocked. By a private mark he recognised the bag as his property, and as one which was in his shop on the night in question. The sum of 3s Gd in silver was on a cabinet in the shop. The white shirt produced was similar to those sold at his shop. On the same evening, at 7.45, he returned to the shop and everything was in order. At 8.15 next morning, he found the back window broken and the catch on the office door broken, while one of the front ■ doors was unfasterned. A brown tweed suit was found to be missing, and he recognised the goods produced as his. HARKNESS' FOUNDRY. Bertrim George Harkness, engineer, said on June 24 he locked up his premises as usual at 5.30. On returning on Monday morning, he found the workshop had been broken into. The revolver (produced) was i ll his workshop on June 24. The ball bearings, motor cycle tube, plate gauge, and gun parts, were his property. He found that the tool chest had been broken open and several tools were missing. He did not know of the loss until the police produced the goods. THE DOCTORS'. Dr. Steven identified certain tools produced as his property. He had been away from Stratford on a holiday about the end of May, and the articles had been taken from his garage in Seyton Street during his absence. Dr.Paget gave similar evidence with reference to two acetylene gas generators and other tools (some of which lie identified) as having been taken from his garage, in Page Street. JOHN WM. DAVIDSON. John Win. Davidson, motor driver, Pembroke Road, stated that on 24th June last, lip was engaged driving a cai- for Dr. Steven. He had the use of the Doctor's shed in which he kept some of his own property. A tin of wax produced was identical with one which he mii-sed about the time.

! THE EVIDENCE. i Milton William Barlow, aged 15 years, stated he was apprenticed to bis father, W. H. Barlow, a carpenter. He left his father's home and went to live with accused and assisted him with carpentrying work. On one occ don, accused asked him if ho wi-nt-cj a new suit. Witness said "ye:-:, and in company with accused, went round to the back of some sample rooms. Accused (Browning) "legged me up" to a window, and told me to get him a new suit. Witness looked for one in die sample room, but could not find a proper lit, so he collected some ties, braces, brushes, and combs. and a black- hat which he gave to accused, who put them in a bag he had with him. Accused had a screw driver in his pocket. After getting out of the window, and at accused's suggestion, he went round to White's, where he had a good deal of trouble in getting in. While inside, he succeeded in procuring a new suit, some 'stockings, 3s 6d in cash, and some 'sundries, which he packed up, and then let himself out by the front door. This was about midnight. Accused had told him that if he heard anyone coming he would give him a warning whistle. When he got outside, there, was no sign of accused, so ho took the things in the dress basket „p to Speck's place, and planted them in some fir trees. Then he went to accused's place, and found him in bed—asked him why he ran away, and accused said he thought be (heard the police coming. Witness told ■him where the things were, and accused said they would go next night and get thorn. They both went two j nights' later, got the things, and took them round to accused's place. The articles produced were those he had !taken from White's. A week Liter,] accused said he wanted some benzine, and they went round to Harkness's. j Accused helped him through the win- ; dow, but lie could not find any ben- j zine. Hie found some ball bearings, _ shot-gun parts, a revolver, bicycle tubes, and other articles, which he identified in those now produced. They were all taken down to accused's place, who told him that he had that , night visited Dr. Stevens' place and ; collected some spanners and sundries. Accused did not mention having call- j cd at Dr. Paget's. The hat produced j in Court was one which accused was wearing a week ago. .Cross examined by Sergeant Dale: While at Browning's, he had dug a. hole in the back yard, and under ac- | cused's direction, had buried the gas generators and The box with oil stone there. I Constable Robertson deposed to having searched accused's house on September 6th and subsequently, and had found towels, revolver, and other articles produced in Court, and had dug up the gas generators in the back garden. Accused had stated m answer to questions that he had no idea how the articles had got there. W. H. Barlow, father of Milton Barlow, stated that he met the accused in Boardwav on the 14th of this month, and asked him if he had any of his son's belongings in his house. Accused's reply was "nothing whatever." In answer to the Bench, accused stated he had nothing to say, and was , committed for trial to the Supreme; Court, Wellington, on 6th November. Bail was fixed in accused's surety of £3OO and two others of £l5O each.