“A DANGEROUS MAN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 512, 15 November 1928, Page 1

“A DANGEROUS MAN”

S.M. Refuses Suspect Rail

STORY OF BURIED JEWELLERY

A STORY of buried treasure was unfolded at the Police fl Court this morning when Cecil Francis Hunt was charged with breaking and entering the shop of Meltzer Bros, on June 25 and stealing jewellery valued at £l2O. Hunt, a mechanic aged 24, pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused.

Gold rings, watches, silver cups, field glasses, and cigarette cases—most of them ruined through being buried in wet mud, without any covering—were among the exhibits produced in court.

Harry Meltzer, a pawnbroker, of Hobson Street, found on the morning of June 26 that his shop had been broken into. A quantity of jewellery and two suitcases were stolen, but the most valuable part of the stock was locked up in the safe. Witness identified certain of the articles produced in court. “It is easy to get on to the roof from the back of the premises,” he .concluded. The shop had been entered through the roof. Frederick William Gardes, licensee of the Criterion Hotel, Albert Street, remembered accused coming to his hotel on the evening of June 25. He had two suitcases with him, and left early in the morning, after having spent the night there. Hunt had frequently stayed with witness, and had always paid satisfactorily. Constable Hancox went to the Ponsonby Club Hotel on October 10 and was introduced to Hunt, telling him that he was a Mr. Kissin, and dealt in jewellery.

Hunt then offered to sell witness some jewellery which the constable inferred from his remarks to be stolen property. He did not say where the property was, but informed the constable that, to see it, one would have to walk a long way and that it would mean using a spade. Witness made an appointment for Saturday morning, but Hunt did not keep it. A man named Ryan introduced Morris Kissin, the next witness, to Hunt. Mr. Kissin, who described himself as a pawnbroker in business in Hobson Street, was asked to go out and see the jewellery so, on Saturday, October 10, he and Hunt travelled out to a house at New Lynn. There witness saw most of the jewellery produced in court. It was wet and mucky. “I offered him £7 10s for the lot,” concluded Mr. Kissin. Witness identified money he had paid for the jewellery, which was contained in a small sugar sack, also produced. Detective O’Sullinvan investigated the robbery and interviewed Hunt, who was in Mount Eden gaol from June 27 to October 3. After Hunt left the gaol he was under strict surveillance by the detectives, and was ultimately arrested on October 20 in a house in New Lynn occupied by T. Dennis. The

arrest was made shortly after Mr. Kissin had left the house with the jewellery. Witness said that the jewellery, which he had taken from Mr. Rissin was the stuff stolen from Meltzer’s. . Hunt replied that it was his corner of . it, and asked whether the other man - had been caught. He admitted-that he had buried the jewellery out in the Waitakeres. Cross-examined by Mr. L. Marchand, for Hunt, Detective O’Sullivan said that when he questioned Hunt, the man had admitted that his way of earning a living would not bear investigation. He was showing people round the town, where they could get a good time, and supplying liquor to Maoris. S.M. IMPATIENT At this stage Mr. Marchand asked witness what led him to suspect Hunt of the robbery. “I have been very patient up to now,” said Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., “but you are asking all the questions that will hang -your client.” Mr. Marchand: I only want to get at the facts. The Magistrate: If your client gets an extra twelve months he will have you to thank . for it. However, you are extracting the evidence, so go on.” “There may be a man listening at the back of the court who might serve on the jury.” “We suspected Hunt because he had broken into another shop in a similar the roof—once before,” continued Detective O’Sullivan. “On the day after the burglary he was. sentenced to three months for vagrancy. Since being discharged from the gaol he has been consorting with thieves until arrested on this charge.” Mr. Marchand asked for bail, but the magistrate refused to grant it. “You yourself have shown me that he is a dangerous man with past convictions and should not be allowed out on bail,”, he said..