ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 172, 7 December 1912, Page 6

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

WELL-KNOWN FOOTBALLER CHARGED. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. In tlio Magistrate's Court yesterday, a young man named Edward William Stockman, a well-known footballer, was charged with breaking and entering the shop of Frederick Samuel .Butler on November 2!), 1912, and with stealing therefrom twelve pounds of butter, of a total value of 15s.

The accused was defended by Mr. A, llj .fnhn^.m.

Constal-la W. Smythe described how on the morning of November 21) he was on duty at Sutler's dairy, in Liardet street. " lie reached there at three minutes past six, and in company with the proprietor (Butler) saw that all tho outside doors ami windows were closed. Witness placed a box containing a com piete layer of butter, with one halfpound lying on top, on the butter- ' worker in the machinery room. Butler left the place at about nine minutes past six, and witness went into the shop, closing the door leading to the ma chinery room. He put a chair behind the door, and then went into the office, lie rawed a slide in the wall -between the machinery room and the office, and i after remaining there for about eight minutes, he heard a noise at the back of the premises. It sounded as if the window at the back of the boiler-room was being opened. He then saw the accused walk into the machinery room. He lingered near the window, where witness had a good look at him. Subsequently Stockman crossed the room in the direction of the butter-room, where he lost sight of him.. • .He-'heard him try to open the doer leading into the shop, but the chair which he (witness) had placed there prevented the accused from opening, it. A few seconds later the accused returned to the door where he (witness) saw him come in, and he appeared to be carrying something. Witness ran to the door, pulled the chair away, and entered, the accused meanwhile going through the machinery room into the boiler-room. The door was closed, and on witness 1 opening it he could sec no sign of the accused. Witness'then went out into the yard, and after searching the back premises, he went to the corner- of Gill and Liardet streets, but still failed to see Stockman. He returned' to the factory and saw that the box which'he bad placed on the butter-worker was empty, with the exception of the half-pound. Being satisfied that the butter had been stolen, he went up to Wiley's boarding-house, where the accused lived, going up to the accused's bedroom. He returned to make a further search around the factory, and on his way back he saw Stockman coming from behind; an old shed in a vacant section, about 100 yards from his home. At; the back of the section was a large hole in the fence, about 2ft each way. A person using the hole in the fence would' have to\cross a wheel-

Wright's viird.aiul a timber yard to come from Butler's premises. lie asked Hie ( accused, whom lie met on the section, > what he was doing, and the-reply was J that he had been in a convenience. He j then asked him what he had done with I the butter he had taken from the faetory. The , accused replied that wit-J nes's was mistaken, as he had taken no i butter; He could .search him if he

wished. Accused added that lie had been on the 'Recreation Grounds training for a race, the accused was placed under arrest and,■taken to Hie police station. Subsequently Butler and witness went to : the factory and searched for the mussing butter. . They found six pounds lying behind the milk-pans, between the window-and the door. On

going into, the. .machinery room he found a key,''which lie 'handed to Butler. Continuing, witness said tlr.it Constable Egan. "itnd 'himself then went .to the factor v. and found' traces of footsteps, quite fresh, leading from the back \ of the premises to the dividing- fence. | They found no traces of footsteps he- J hind the fence in the wheel-wright's yard, j Crossing over into the adjoining section, | they 'omul traces behind some timber, i beside the hole in the fence. One of { these footsteps was very distinct and | was made with' a hoot without a J heel. Later on they went to Butler's I factory, and found a .further six pounds

of butter thrown in a hollow amongst some rubbish in the 'boiler room. Witness found the knife produced on the floor in the boiler robin.' Witness added that Constable Egaii'andliinwcTf visited

the accused when he was in the cells, and when asked Wo lie} \v«ytniiitiiig with' on the Recreation Ground he said he was not training there..but.was _•

TRAINTXt! ON .THE ROAD by r himself. The accused, added witness, was wearing boots, without heels. Evidence was next given by F. S. Butler, carrying on business in Liardet street as a dairyinrii.'. WitiHVs' gave" corroborative evidence, and then went on to estate that before lie locked, the factory door about (i.I) a.m. on tlic day in question he saw Stockman pass down. CI ill street. TTe saw liiiti.shortly afterwards at (he next corner. He hail krown. the accused by flight for some time past. He lived exactly opposite his place.' Witness added that when hi' retfrrhed to; the 'factory his owii key was on the wall and another key which did not. ibe|oi|g to him was in the. back door. : ;,, ,; ~,,:,.: ■ ,:' ,

THE ACCUSED'S HOOTS. .Evidence'corroborative, of that of previous witnesses was' , ''TrT~o"™<?iveii'T)V' Constable If. J. Egan. He also stated that when he got back : t'o the police; station he examined the boots which the accused was wearing., obse-uv-ing that t.liey were a light pair without; heels, and were of a size which would liilike an impression similar to the footmarks which he had seen. • ■ . .

This coneliidpd the I'viil-'iicc. and Hi 3 Worship committed :tf(o<dunan for trial at tlic Supreme Court in Now Plymouth in March next. Accwed wah allowed bail in liis own rwonfiiisitiife of £7.">. and' two suridicp of. £37 10s oaeli.