EX-CONSTABLES IN COURT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 884, 30 January 1930, Page 18

EX-CONSTABLES IN COURT

CHARGED WITH BURGLARY THREE MEN APPEAR Press Association WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Dressing gowns, hats, ties, shirts, pyjamas, collars, underwear, gloves, rugs, cardigans, raincoats and numerous other articles of apparel were exhibited in the Police Court today. They were alleged to have been stolen from the premises of C. Smith, Ltd., by Joseph Maurice White, aged 28, described as an artist, Wilfred Leonard Ramm, aged 28, an ex-constable, and a member of the force till within a few weeks of his arrest, and Hugh Robertson Stevenson, aged 27, who till the day of his arrest was a policeman. They w r ere jointly charged with breaking and entering and stealing, between June and December, goods valued at £166 18s 9d. There was a separate charge against White, which included being in possession of housebreaking implements, and. against Stevenson of receiving. In evidence it was stated that "White was arrested by a night watchman, who found him inside the premises, which accused had entered with the aid of a skeleton key. Detectives interviewed Stevenson, who, it was alleged, made a statement that he had received several articles from Ramm. When Ramm was interviewed by detectives he said, according to the evidence of the detectives, that he had some stolen goods, all of which he would hand over. He was then taken to the detective office, where he made a statement. In this statement, it is alleged, Kamm said that he met White about four years ago. One night about seven months ago, White mentioned that he could get into Smiths, Limited, and White suggested that they should go into the place while accused was on night duty. “I fell in with this suggestion,” continued the statement, “and White went into the shop while I kept guard outside, although I sometimes went into the shop also. This happened on six occasions in a fortnight while I was on night duty, and happened about ten times altogether.” All the goods were taken to White’s flat and the accused met him there. Stevenson was the watchhousekeeper at the Taranaki Street: Station at the time, and he was alleged to be “in the know.” Stevenson got roughly about the same as accused did out of the robberies, continued the statement. Stevenson used to go to White’s place in the day time and bring some of the goods back to the station, where accused would get his share. Each of the accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail wa's refused.