MASKS AND REVOLVERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 6

MASKS AND REVOLVERS.

FIVE LADS ARRESTED. Auckland, June 6. Five young men, namely, Joseph Thomas Christie, (leorge Roach Bartlett, •lames Kdward Smith, James King, and Thomas Marshbank, whose ages range from lfi to 22 years, were before the Auckland Police Court on a number of charges of breaking and entering. The story of the prosecution, as related by Chief Detective Marsack, was that four of the men charged lived together in a boarding-house in the oity, and, an examination of their rooms revealed a large and varied collection of burglary impedimenta. There were several masks, wigs, moustaches, keys, revolvers, etc., and, in t;he chief detective's words, "all the pa/raphernalia of the foolish Deadwood Dick type of burglar." When diseovered, the lads attempted to scatter afield, but they were all arrested. It was not alleged, said Mr. Marsack, that Marshbank was guilty of breaking and entering, as his part in the escapade was to keep watch outside Mrs. Hellaby's shop while the others committed theft. Detective • Quartermain gave evidence regarding the arrest of the accused. With the exception of Marshbank tlioy admitted being concerned in the thefts. When witness arrested Marshbank, he questioned him about the wigs and revolvers found at the boarding-house, and Marshbank produced a false moustache from a coat pocket. He made a statement to witness that he was returning home in the early hours of the morning of May 0, when lie met King, Christie, Bartlett and Smith, who told Marshbank that .they were going to rob Hellaby's shop. Marshbank said he was "not keen on the job," but he consented to keep watch. When Christie was arrested two revolvers were found in his possession. Marshbank and Bartlett pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence. Christie pleaded guilty to all charges, and King and Smith pleaded guilty to breaking and entering Hellaby's shop, but pleaded not guilty to being implicated in the theft from Mr. Fletcher's house. Tho accused were committed to the j Supreme Court for sentence and trial according to their respective pleas.