THREE IN DOCK

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 881, 27 January 1930, Page 11

THREE IN DOCK

pLTE CITY EDITION

CHARGED WITH STEALING METAL COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Arrested by Detective-Sergeant Marlin, following the theft of metal from a foundry on January 11, Rudolph Allan. Edward Richard Black and David Todd were charged with freaking, entering and theft. When the case was proceeded with St the Police Court this morning, a large part of the floor was covered with old metal —-wheels, cogs, bearings, port-hole frames and other engineering sundries. All three accused pleaded not guilty and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Thomas Valentine Masefield, head cl tie engineering Arm of Masefield and Company, Chappel Square, ldentifleld metal produced in Court as his prcperty. On Monday, January 13 after opening the shop, he missed a propeller. A tour of the premises revealed the fact that a bar was missing from a window and there were footprints on the sill. In the store practically a whole shelf had been cleared. Witness enumerated the articles missing from the foundry. He had reported to the police that metal valued at about £BO was missing- The total value of the material missing he now estimated at £2OO. A visit paid to his premises by Todd nnd Black on the morning of January jj was mentioned by Frederick William Hayes, a licensed second-hand dealer and marine dealer, of Newmarket The men had offered to sell him metai which they brought him in a motortruck —about eight sacks. I did not buy as I did not like the look of it,” added witness. "It seemed fishy.” Edward tleoige Meynell, a dealer rf Edendale. said he had seen Allan or. January 13 in the early afternoon. Ho had arrived in a horse and cart and w'anted to sell some metal. A deal was made at 4d a pound. Witness had paid over £lO 14s 2d by cheque The cheque was post-dated until January 14. “I did that because I had a good idea the stuff was stolen,” witness continued. “After Allan had gone I made an order stopping the cheque. Then I followed Allan to the Edendale terminus, where 1 found him talking to three other men by a motorlorry. After they had driven off 1 rang up the police.” Allcin had siv en the name of Barnev Clark and his address as 67 Ardmore Koad. Ponsonby. On January 14. wit! reas had seen Allan at Edendale. The jnan said. “That was a nice cheque you gave me yesterday. I looked a fool trying to cash it.” Witness had taken him home and given him (another cheque on which, later, he also stopped payment. There was no doubt that Todd and Black were the men whom he had eeer. telking to Allan at the Edendale terminus. Witness identified some of the metal produced in court as that gold to him by Allan. SAW MOST OF METAL According to Detective-Sergeant fiarUn, he had visited Meyneli’s premises at Edendale on January 13 There he had seen most of the metai at present in court. Witness put in a statement made by Allan, in which ho explained that he had been asked to sell the metal to Meynell by two men In a motor-lorry. He had given the name of Clark, because one of the men nad said that was his name He "as to have received £1 for his services. v

The detective-sergeant had later interviewed Black and Todd at 100 took Street. Black denied having been out with his truck since January 10 - , ™ aid k® knew nothing of the metal. Todd said he had not been out on the truck with Black since January 9 or 10. . second and summary charge the three accused also pleaded not guilty. They were charged with .stealing, on December 23, gun metal at 7s 6U and belonging to the barren Engineering Company, Ltd. Charles Jackson, of the Warren Company, identified metal produced as feeing the property of his firm. Ine three accused were convicted pna remanded for sentence until after the hearing of the indictable charge at the Supreme Court. Mr. Noble asked for bail and Chiefdetective Hammond offered no objectlon. Black, lie said, was already awaiting trial on a similar charge, but It was understood he had a lorry and a horse and cart to dispose of. No Security was fixed. A. further indictable charge of stealing six window’ frames valued at £3O, belonging to the Union Steam Ship company, was proceeded with against t>iack this afternoon.