ALIAS “JACKIE COOGAN”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 850, 19 December 1929, Page 1

ALIAS “JACKIE COOGAN”

STABLE BOY CONFESSES TO NINE CHARGES COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE Known among ether names as “Jackie Coogan,” James Porter, a stable-hand, aged 23, pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to nine charges. He had broken into six buildings and stolen goods of a total value of • £BS 2s 6d. T)ORTER, alias Thompson, alias Williams, alias Jackie Coogan, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He was not represented by counsel and there was no request for bail. The goods stolen included jewellery, clothing, cigarettes and chocolates, a gramophone and records, a jockey’s outfit, saddle, bridle, spurs, boots, riding breeches and racing colours.

Chief-Detective Hammond said that three of the charges could be taken summarily, but Porter preferred to be sentenced for all his misdeeds in the Supreme Court. Constance Maud Roberts, of 63 Bell Road, Remuera, said that she left her home on December 10 at 7.45 h.m. A window 15 feet above the ground was left shut, but unlatched. On. witness’s return home about 5 p.m. she found that the house had been entered. A diamond ring and some clothing were missing. According to Frederick William Thorne, of Golf Road, he owned a furnished house at Takapuna. On November -4 the seaside house was left locked. Later it was found that the place had been ransacked. The bed had been occupied and a gramophone and records were among the Boods missing. Entrance had probably been gained through a window, after *n attempt had been made to force the door. Sarah Elizabeth Fuller said that, returning to her home at Newmarket on December 13, she had missed a razor and a brush. The place had been ransacked and the intruder had got in through a fanlight. Mary Red path, manageress of the Auckland Racing Club tea kiosk at Kllerslie. said that on the morning of November 33 the front door had been found open and goods were missing.

His Victoria Avenue home had been entered during his absence between November 39 and December 13. while h « was away on holiday, according to John William McDonald. Jewellery, a °heque book and a number of foreign coins were missing. Acting-Detective Davies said that on December 14 at 8 p.m., with ActingDetective Mills, he had accosted accused in Hobson {Street. Porter had nia.de a statement admitting several of the offences with which he was charged and was arrested an hour or two later. De Lad made a further statement, taking further admissions. Nearly all the stolen property had been recov®red. including goods from Alison's ■tables.

The chief-detective added that all the offences were admitted in the statements made by accused. Ho had been employed in a racing stable at Trenthem, but his employer had gone to Australia. Coming to Auckland a short time ago, he had found himself with no fixed place of abode.