THE WAITARA BURGLARIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 58, 26 July 1912, Page 6

THE WAITARA BURGLARIES

ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. IIORSE-TIITETCXO AXD OTHER OFFENCES. A series of criminal offences, including indictable charges, were preferred against two young men, Thomas William Dean (aged 20) and Percy Eichstaedt (aged IS) in the Magistrate's Court, New Plymouth, yesterday, before Mr. A. Crook'e, B.M. The accused pleaded guilty to the whole of the offences, all of which were committed about the same. time. They embarked upon their short-lived criminal career at Waitara, where they stole two Winchester rifles and cartridges, and also burgled certain business premises, purloining various small articles. Realising doubtless that Waitara was becoming rather "warm" for them, they hied themselves to a local livery and bait stables. There they obtained two horses on the pretext of going to New Plymouth for the day. Ju reality, however, they made tracks for Whangamomona, and en route, it is alleged—the case has yet to 'be heard—that they broke and entered a shop at Strathmore, carrying away a quantity of tobaeco and other merchandise. Arrived at their destination, they attempted to dispose of the two horses, together with the saddles and bridles, but the low prices which they asked for their steeds aroused suspicion, culminating in their arrest. HORSE-THIEVING.

The first offence with which they were charged yesterday was that of'.horsethieving. Dean was charged with stealing at Whangamomona on July 19, a bay horse, valued at £3O, together with a saddle and bridle, worth £5, the property of Edward A. Pepperell, of Waitara, While it wa3 alleged against Eichstaedt, who is the son of very respectable parents, that lie also stole a horse, worth £ls, and a saddle and bridle, valued at £5, from the same owner, who is the proprietor of the Masonic livery and bait stables at Waitara.

Mr. J. E. L. Stanford appeared for Eichstaedt, and both cases were taken together. Senior-Sergeant Haddrell conducted the ease for the police. The first witness called was Police Constable Liston, who is stationed at Te Wera, and he said that he arrested the two accused at Whangamomona on July 1!). They were then together, When he charged them with horse-stealing, Eichstaedt said to Dean, ''We may as well admit the lot." Dean then replied that it was just as well. Eichstaedt added that they had offered the horses to Mr. Jakes, the stable-keeper, the bay horse for .£!}, saddle and bridle in, and the grey hoivse for £B, saddle and bridle in. Dean was present and heard the conversation, and he said, "That is right." Eichstaedt said that they bad hired the horses from the Waitara stables and ridden to Whangamomona. As they, were short of money they intended to sell the horses and go into the bush. Witness then took possession of the horses, which were now in charge of the police.

Neither of the accused had any ques tions to ask.

John Thomas Fairley, groom employed at the Masonic stables at Waitara, deposed to the. two accused having come to him at fi.3o a.m. on Monday, July 15. He knew the accused Dean by sight, but did not know Eichstaedt. "Eichstaedt asked him if he could hire a couple of hacks for the day to go to New Plymouth. Witness agreed, Dean riding the big bay horse and Eichstaedt the grey horse. The latter accused remarked that he would say which was the better of the two when he came home that night. The accused were supplied With saddles and bridles along with the horses. Witness did not give the accused any authority to dispose of the horses, or the property. He identified the horses now in the possession of the police, as being the same, which he had hired to the accused. The horses were very much knocked about.

Evidence was next given by Edward A. Pepperell, proprietor of the Masonic stables at Waitara, as to the horses, saddles and bridles in the charge of the police being this property. He valued the bay gelding at £3O, the grey gelding at .£ls, and the saddles and bridles at £lO. He knew the accused Dean by sight, and on the morning in question he saw both > the accused riding away on his horses. Henry Jakes, livery stable-keeper at Whangamomona, said that on July 18 both accused came to his stables about 10 o'clock in the morning. Dean was riding a bay horse and Eiehstaedt the grey horse. They left the animals at the stable for that day. The accused again came to the stables between nine and ten the next morning. Dean asked • him to buy the big bay horse. Witness asked its age, to which accused replied, "About 13 years." He wanted £9 for it. Witness asked him where the big bay horse came from, and. he said Waitara, but Eiehstaedt interjected, "No; we bought him at Stratford." Eiehstaedt then asked witness to buy the grey cob. Its age, he said, was about nine years, and he wanted £B. Witness then'asked if he chucked the saddles and bridles in, and they both replied in the affirmative, stating that they were no good to them. No deal took place, however, and later on Constable Liston came on the scene and took possession of the horses and gear. The horses outside the Court now were the same ones. This closed the case for the police. Neither of the accused had anything to say. Both pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence. FURTHER CHARGES. THEFT ADMITTED.

Both accused were next separately charged with two counts of theft: (1) That on July 14 they stole a Winchester repeating rifle, valued at £4, and 44 cartridges from G. H. Watson, of Waitara; and (2) that between July 14 and 19 they stole a Winchester repeating rifle, valued at £3, from Royden A. Gray, of Waitara. One of the rifles was stolen from a bedroom in a hotel, and the other from a boat lying alongside the Waitaia wharf. The accused, who elected to be dealt with summarily, pleaded guilty to both charges. Addressing his Worship ou Eichstaedt's behalf, Mr. Stanford asked him to postpone sentence until after the two accused had come before the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence on the indictable offences to which they had pleaded guilty. His reason for asking this was that it was intended to treat the whole, of the offences (which were really one series of crimes committed about one and the same time by youths who possibly thought of turning into bushrangers or cowboys) as one and the same offence. This was being done in the u'-o of Eichstaedt, with the object of prev idling upon the judge to commit him for probation in view of his previous good character. If the judge agreed to this course, then his Worship (Mr. Crooke, S.M.). might see his way to merely enter a conviction and remit sentence for the less serious offence. His Worship acquiesced in Mr. Stanford's suggestion, and accordingly postponed sentence on both accused, sine die. BREAKING AND ENTERING. In the burglary cases Eichstaedt and Dean were separately charged with breaking and entering the premises of

Denis Ivor George, Waitara, anil stealing therefrom 7s in money and 23 boxes of cartridges, valued, at £1 15s. Eichstaedt was defended by Mr. Stanford, while Dean was not represented by counsel.

Senior-Sergeant Haddrell prosecuted, and several witnesses were called by the police. Percy William Feek, cycle engineer in the employ of George, said ho left the premises at 0 p.m. on Saturday. July 13. On returning to the shop at eight o'clock on the Monday morning following he found the back door of the workshop ajar, and the window with two sashes broken. The hole was large enough to enable an ordinary-sized man to get through, lie did not miss anything from the shop that night, but at 5 o'clock the same evening he discovered that the whole of the pea-rifle cartridges were missing. They comprised in all about 23 boxes. The cartridges produced in court were similar to those in stock. He had seen the accused Dean about Waitara.

Denis Ivor George, cycle dealer in McLean street, Waitara, said he was in his workshop on Sunday, July 14, from 9.30 ' to 11 o'clock in the morning. He left the premises securely locked up. He was positive the back door was shut. Everything was in order. He left 7s in the cash-box on the counter in the front shop. The cash-box was not locked. He went back to the shop at nine o'clock next morning, and from something he I heard he examined the cash-box, finding that the seven shillings were missing. Subsequently he discovered that the cartridges (23 boxes) were also missing. Thomas J. Liston, police constable, stationed at Te Wera, deposed to having arrested the two accused at Whangamomona on Friday, July 19. On charging them with breaking and entering at Waitara, Eichstaedt said: "We may as well admit the lot." Dean replied: "Just as well." Eichstaedt then informed witness where the swags were to be found in the bush. Witness and another constable accompanied both the accused to the spot indicated by them, where they found two swags. The swags were examined at the police station in the presence of the accused. In Eichstaedt's swag they found a handkerchief (produced) with the cartridges contained therein. In Dean's swag they found a leather ca9e (produced) with the cartridges. Altogether there were 900 cartridges in both swags. Regarding the money Eichstaedt said that he had taken 7s Gd, not 7s, from the cash-box.

Cross-examined by Mr. Stanford, witness said that the accused of their own free will assisted the police to recover the articles stolen.

This closed the case for the prosecution.

Both accused pleaded guilty, and were committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.