GISBORNE BURGLARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 45, 14 July 1914, Page 2

GISBORNE BURGLARIES.

PECULIAR STORIES BY THE ACCUSED. I Per Press Association. Ciefborne, July 13. John Robert March and William Johnston were charged with burglary at the shop of 11. J. Grieve, jeweller, on | June 12. j The case against Marsh was heard | ■first. Accused pleaded not guilty of i tteft, but guilty of receiving a watch which was found in his possession. . Grieve, in evidence, stated that the jewellery taken was valued at between £1001) and £I7OO. Detective MoLeod | aaid the accused Marsh admitted he had a watch, the proceeds of the bur- , glarv, given him by a man to keep his , mouth shut. 'Marsh was committed tor • trial on a charge of theft, and com- i .mitted for sentence for receiving. Bail ] was allowed in£soo and two sureties of £SOO each. The case against Johnstone is proceeding. Marsh, in a Signed statement, said that on the Saturday evening after the robbery he met the •accused Johnston, who took him to an unoccupied housa I and .pulled a bag out from under the | | house filled with jewellery. Witness put j his band in the bag and took a watc.U. Johnston took some jewellery also and then replaced the bag under the house. | Gieve's shop had arranged to plunder another store, that night and he (Marsh) and Johnston waited to assist (him, but he failed to turn up. Marsh said he bad no idea wbo he was. That was all he knew of the robbery. The. accused Johnston, when arrested at Tolago Bay, made a statement that the day following the burglary 'lie met a man who told him he had broken into Grieve's. lie showed hiin a swag planted under an empty house. He (Johnston) agreed to assist him to shift the stulT. anil subsequently visited the place with Marsli. The latter took a watch, aiul he (Johnston) various articles, valued at £30., Marsh's statement that it had been arranged with tho man to break into another shop was untrue. He (Johnston) took no part in the robbery. That was all lie knew about it. Johnston pleaded gmilty of receiving, and not guilty of burglary, and was committed for sentence and trial. His bail was as fixed for Marsh.