“JACK SMITH’S” CRIMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 586, 12 February 1929, Page 1

“JACK SMITH’S” CRIMES

JUDGE HAD HEARD STORY BEFORE

THEFTS FROM WAREHOUSES As an explanation of how he became possessed of stolen goods a prisoner told the police that he had been given them to carry by one “Jack Smith.” This person was the subject of comment in the Supreme Court this morning by Mr. Justice Blair, who remarked that “Jack Smith” was an old offender. Tlio prisoners were Bertie John Christian, labourer, aged 27, and Kenneth Malcolm McDonald, waterside worker, 32. The men were conjointly charged with breaking into the warehouse of Jack Robinson, Wellesley Street, on December 11, and removing serge valued at £57. Christian was further charged with breaking into Sargood, Son and Ewen’s warehouse on the evening of October 22 and stealing soft goods of a total value of £BO. Alternative counts of theft and receiving were laid against both men. Air. V. N. Hubble prosecuted for the Crown and Mr. Mackay appeared for Christian and Mr. Newbery lor McDonald. Evidence was given that two men, one of whom a woman identified as Christian, went about hawking serge. Christian's explanation to the police as to how he became possessed of certain goods was that when he was sitting on the steps at the corner of Cook and ITobson Streets on the evening of the arrest, a man named Jack Smith, of Wellington Street, came along with some parcels and asked him to assist in carrying them. On inquiry at the address given no Jack Smith could be found.

AN OLD OFFENDER Directing the jury this morning, his Honour said that there was no evidence that the accused were seen on the premises. The Crown’s case, therefore, relied on the doctrine of recent ptssession. That was very cogent evidence, though not positive, of theft. Christian’s explanation of possession of material from Sargood’s was that “Jack Smith” had asked him to carry a number of parcels. “You will find there? are a lot of crimes committed by Mr. Jack Smith,” said his Honour, amid laughter. “He is an old offender.” The defence had made a great deal of a plea of mistaken identity, but much of it was undoubtedly red herrings. The only evidence against McDonald was that he accompanied Christian on the hawking expeditions. The jury retired at 10.45. (Proceeding.)