STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 September 1916, Page 3

STRATFORD.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Stratford, Sept. 15.

A sitting of the Magistrate's Court was beld this morning before Mr: W. R. ilaselden, S.M. Milton Barlow pleaded guilty to five charges of theft, in connection with the burglary cases for which he and George Browning were arrested. Mr. T. C. Fookes, who represented Barlow, said the lad had committed the thefts at the instance of the accused Browning. The lad's father had considerable difficulty in keeping him away from the older man. The offences had all been committed while he had been associated with Browning. Sergeant Dale said the lad made a clean breast of the whole affair when he was arrested, and he had no doubt he was under the influence of Browning. Practically all the property*, had been recovered.

His Worship said he would leave tlie admonition to the parent, and he wanted to impress on him to press home the lesson, morally and physically. He would convict Barlow and order him to come up for sentence when called upon. He was to obey his father's orders and not to be allowed out at night's unless one of his parents was with him. Restitution would 'have to be made of the money stolen, which counsel undertook to niaike.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. ' This afternoon, before Mr. W. R. •Haselden, S.M., George Browning was charged with five cases of breaking and entering and one charge ot theft. Sergeant Dale prosecuted, Mr. A. H. Johnstone appearing for accused. Doig Scott, traveller for McEldowney Bros., of Wellington and Wanganui, said that on the loth of June last lie had goods displayed in the County Hotel sample rooms. He locked the room up at 0.20 p.m., and saw the windows were all fastened. He did not return till 8.10 next morning, and on going to the room he found the door was locked. On openin" it. the first thing that attracted his attention was that some felt hats imd been disarranged, the place being upside down. He identified the articles mentioned in the charge as the property of his firm. They were in the sample roo:;i when he locked up that night. Robert H. White, draper, Broadway, gave evidence that he locked up his premises at the usual time on Juno 15. He identified the articles nanjfid in the information as liis property, the travel*

ling trunk having -his own, private niark on it. On opening his premises next mornhig he discovered that the back window dad been broken open, and one of the front doors unfastened. On looking over tlie stock he discovered a suit and travelling trunk had- been taken, but subsequently he found other of his goods at the police station.

Bertram George Ilarkness., engineer, Juliet Street, said that on opening his premises on June 20 he found that they had been broken into. He identified the revolver and other articles as his propertv.

«Dr. D. Steven, medical superintendent of the Stratford Hospital,- identified articles mentioned in tlie information as having been in bis garage. Dr. T. L. Paget also identified certain articles as his property.- They were in his motor shed and nobody had authority to move tliein.

John William Davidson, farmer, iPeinbroke Road, corroborated tlie evidence of Dr. Steven. Milton Barlow said he was 15 years of age. and was assisting his father as a 'builder. .Ho left his father's residence and went to live with accused soma months ago. He assisted tbe accused in i carpentering. One night accused asked him to go to tlie sample room and get, a new suit for him, and witness said all I right. Witness and accused went round | to the back of the premises and accused I helped him up to tlie .window, and'he got I in over the top of it (it being open). Witness had a good look round the room but could not find a man's sint, so he took some ties, collars, braces and othei" articles and banded them through the window to accused, who put them in a bag brought for the purpose. Witness then went back over the window, and accused suggested they-should try White & Co.'s premises. Accused and witness got over the back fence and went to the window and tried to open it with a screw-driver j not being successful, they broke the window. Witness entered the building and found the door leading to the s'hop locked, so he took the lock oil'. Had a good look round and took possession of a suit of clothes and other articles, packing them in a suit case. He left the premises by the front door. It mas about midnight. 'Accused said that if he heard anyone coming ho would give a whistle, and witness was to leave by the front door, but when he' left the premises he could not see accused, so aie took the articles to a place near his parents' residence, hid them in some fir trees, and went down to accused's house and found him in bed. Witness stayed there that night. He asked accused why he v.'as not there when lie came out of White's shop, and he replied that be thought he heard the police coming and ran away. Witness told accused where the ''plant'' was. and the both secured the .articles two nights later and took them down to accused's residence. He identified the articles produced as those stolen front the County sample rooms and White's. About a week subsequently accused said he was getting short of benzine, so both of them went round to Harkness' place, and witness ■got through the window and opened the main door. Accused entered and searched for benzine, but could not find any, so they took the other articles mentioned in the information. Witness stole a 'revolver and bike tube and took them down to accused's place. The same evening accused came home with a lot of motor tools. Accused said he had stolen them from Dr. Steven's garage, but had never told him that he had taken tools from Di. Paget's. Accused was wearing the. felt hat produced. While he .vas residing with accused he dug a hole in the back garden, and accused told him to bury -some of the articles stolen. Constable A. .Robertson testified to having searched Browning's residence, and in a chest of drawers in a bedroom occupied 'by accused he found the towels produced, while in a box in the same room he found a revolver and other articles. Two days later, in the backgarden, witness dug up the generators, ard behind the bedroom door lie found the em.ptv suit case. Accused was present while' the search was being made, and did not say anything, but on being told of the discovery of the generators accused said 'he did not know how they came there.

William Henry Barlow said he was the father of file witness Milton Barlow. He knew the accused Browning. He had a conversation with him on the 4th inst. and asked him if there was anything in accused's residence, belonging to his boy, and he replied there was nothing. This concluded tbe evidence. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Suorcme Court, to be held in Wellington in 'November. Bail was allowed in accused's own recognisance of £3OO and two sureties of .-Clou each. The bail was iinincdiatelv forthcoming. STRATFORD RACING CLUB.

At a committee meeting of the Stratford Racing Club, a .copy of the letters sent to the Taranaki District Committee, and Australian Jockey Club regarding Hector Gray's application for u jockey's license was read.

The following appointments were I .made: Treasurer, Mr. W. P. Kirkwood; 'Course Committee, Messrs. Pitt, Stewart, and Young; Farm Committee, Messrs. Stewart and Pitt; Programme Committee. Messrs. l'itt and Abraham; Appliance Commitl.ee, Messrs. Abraham and JMnekay; Plantiii; Committee, Messrs, K : rkwood and Stewart; Handicappcr, Mr. J. K. Henrys. The catering .arangements were left in the hands of the President and Mr. Kirkwood to report upon at next meeting.

Messrs. Marrett and Fox (Napier) are to be' again asked to work the totalisator.

A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. D. J. Malone for the hard work and assistance he had given the club. Mr. S. Pitt gave notice that he would move at the next meeting of the committee that a number board be erected. Four new members were elected. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Executive Committee'of the Stratford A. and P. Association was held last evening, Mr. E. Jackson presiding. The Stratford Omi Club forwarded a donation of £3 3s, and thanked the Association for the use of the grounds for their matches.

The club was thanked for their donation.

Nine ,ne\v members were elected, making 903 financial members to date. A sub-committee was set up to deal with-the engagement, of a band, show carting, and sale of privileges. The President, Messrs. Dingle, and Kanford were, appointed a 'sub-com-mittee to interview the.Anznc Minstrels with a view to their, giving a performance on the Showgrounds on People's Bay. The President and Mr. R. Masters were appointed a sub-com-mittee to meet the local Patriotic Committee with a view to arranging side-shows on Show days. STRATFORD BOY SCOUTS.

The district committee of the above troop met at the Parish Hal! on Thursday afternoon. Present: .District Commisi*oncr Sanfovd, Tier. Howard, A. F. C-rant, \\ B. Fletcher, Scoutmaster S; Dyson, and the secretary, A. XV Stanley.

Mr. W. P. Kirkwood wrote resigning his position as cliairman of the committee. The resignation was .received with regret.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. XV. Boon), subject to his acceptance, was appointed chairman of the committee., The Vicar (Rev. C, XV. Howard) gave his reason .for not appioving of ' the method of an undenominational scout troop. He preferred the formation of a Church Scout Brigade, and after n long discussion it was resolved: ,"That this meeting is of an opinion that the Stratford troop of Boy Scouts should remain under the constitution of the Dominion Boy Scouts and should no>, affiliate with the Auckland Diocesan Brigade of Scouts. The Vicar expressed the opinion that the boys would have to vacate their present meeting room in the Parish Hall. ■LOWGARTH DAIRY COMPANY. i The-annual meetin gof the Lowgartli Dairy Company took place at the factory on Thursdav. Mr. E. Gray chairman of directors), presiding over a fair attendance of shareholders. The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, referred to the recent season just past and to the fact that they had paid out ; i'qna! to Is Sd per lb must be considered , satisfactory. In order to hfild the annual meetings iririier in the season, the 1 financial year I .if the commuvy will, close on June 30, Instead of July 31st as at present.

jr«=«rs. T. J. Hull. B. Honker, ami JT. C. Hills were elected directors, while Mr. .T, H. Thomas was re-elected audi-

A deputation from tlie Stratford Patriotic Committee waited on tlie meeting to solicit a donation towards I lie Wounded Soldiers' Fund. It was decided to contribute one-quarter per cent, of tlie company's output to be itivided between tlie Stratford ar.d FA','linm Patriotic Committees.

£\~) 15s was given as a donation to ilie Stratford A. and V. Association. Mr. A. Gray, Director of Technical Education, waited on the meeting and .' *ked fov a subsidy for agricultural inI'trnction. It was decided to grant a iiibaidy at the rate of Gd per ton. provided that Mr. Brown, who lias been Ivjinictor under tlie Wanganui KducaJ ion Board, was allowed to continue the cork.

Mr. 15: G'rav. Chairman of Directors, who was retiring owing to his sons .having gone to. tlie front, was specially thanked for his services on behalf of the company.

At a subsequent meeting of directors held after the annual meeting, Mr. B. Booker was elected chairman.