A BREWERY SAFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 58, 26 July 1912, Page 5

A BREWERY SAFE.

CHARGE OP BREAKING AND ENTERING.

STATEMENTS BY ACCUSED.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 24. Paul Eugene Serin and Daniel Murphy (alias Reynolds) were this morning at the Police Court charged with having, on June 20, broken and entered the office of the Great Northern Brewery, in Khy-ber Pass, -with intent to commit a crime. Chief Detective MeMahon prosecuted, and accused were not represented by counsel. Evidence was given by employees to the effect that the front door of the office had been found open on the morning of June 21, as well us the window of the telephone room, while the keyhole of the Strong-room was found plugged with gelignite. Detective Powell gave evidence of an interview he and Detective Cummings had with Murphy on June 27 last, and also as to an interview they had that evening with Serin when they arrested him. The latter then said he had known Murphy in Wellington. Murphy's statement was read to him, and he said, "It's a lie.";' Witness detailed the evidence given previously as to the finding of torches, jemmy, revolver, and other things fh Serin's house. Later that evening Serin made a statement when." he .was at'the detective office, and was arreste'd? ''" I , The s'tatemeht made by Murphy was to the effect; that about sixteen months I previouly he -had met a man named | "Gus" on the Wellington wharf. He had met him since, but did not know his . I name. Between 9 and 10 o'clock on the morning of the attempt on the safe of the Great Northern Brewery he met "Gus" on Queen street wharf. "Gus" asked deponent to meet him nt 7.30 that evening at the top of Symonds street, remarking in. respect to the safe at the Great Northern Brewery that they would go down and give a crack. They walked to the hrewcTy and got In by the office window, which was partly open. "Gus" went into the office, and he (Murphy) went and watched, "tius" had shown him half a plug of gelignite, about afoot of fuse, and a dynamite cap which he had. After being in the office about three-quarters of an hour. "{Jus" came out and said the cap was too large. He showed deponent some keys and a jemmy about a foot long. Serin took the car up Khybcr Pass, and Murphy walked home. Serin in his statement said that he came from Wellington in October last. When he met Murphy on the wharf the latter said: "Row are you doing, Gus?" j and asked him if he would take a job, remarking that it was a "tank," meaning' a safe. . The statement' agreed with [ Murphy's so far as meeting and going to the brewery was concerned, but then i differed. Serin said he had a revolver, cartridges and a jemmy. When they I entered the office, Murphy pulled some gelignite from' his pocket and filled the keyhole of the safe, and handed Serin » detonator,, but he could not fix it, and, becoming afraid, they walked out of the front door. ~.,.. * After Detective Cummings had corro-* borated the evidence of Detective Powell, Serin pleaded "Guilty," and Murphy "Not guilty." They were committed to the Supreme Court, the former for sentence, and the latter for trial.