ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1917, Page 3

ELTHAM.

BURGLARY CHARGE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Eltham, Sept. 24. At the S.M. Court this morning, before Messrs J. Phillips and 0. Flyger, JVsP., Frederick Theodore Poiiltoii, of Eltham, was charged with breaking and entering the railway 'station aI. Eltham, and stealing a hand bag containing clothing, etc., of the value of £4, the property of John Graham. The second charge was one of breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Ed Zimmerman, slaughterman, Eltham, and stealing clothes, jewellery, etc., to the value of £8 las. Senior-Sergeant Till. (Hawera) prosecuted. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was not represented by counsel. John Graham, Salvation Array officer, ■ said he came from Waipawa to Eltham on the Cth instant, and left his baggage at the railway station. He gave no one authority to remove ■same. He valued the goods, which he identified in court, at £4. George Wm. Bennett, stationmaster, said Graham's baggage was at the station on the 11th, and he saw it there again on the 13th. but found it missing next morning at 11 a.m. He identified the goods in the courthouse as the missing luggage. He examined the storeroom, and found the window had beer. forced open, the nails securing the window having been bent over. He noticed a footmark on the outside, and marks on the sill. The room had not l..cen open during the day. The door was locked at 5 p.m. and he was sure it was locked at 7 o'clock. No railway officials had access to the room afterwards. , Walter Barker, mail carrier. Kaponga, stated that he was at the railway station at f> p.m. in the evening. He saw accused there on the 14th, who asked the fare to Kaponga. He had no luggage. He saw him next day at 8 a.m. at the station, when accused still had no luggage, but at f1.30 or 10 a.m. was walking towards the main road, and Had a dress suit bag, hand bag and rug. Jas. Home, motor-lorry driver, Kaponga, said that on the 15th instanc accused travelled with him to kaponga. He identified the two bags and rugs as the luggage 'Poulton had with him. Accused said he was going out to Kaponga to look for work. He saw him going down the Manaia road in the direction of Mr. Mellows'. Alfred Henry King, farmer, Kaponga, said he saw accused at Kaponga at 12.30 o'clock on the 15th instant, and asked him if he wanted a job, but Poulton said no, he was going to Mr. Mellows' stables. He identified the luggage in court. Constable Townsend, Eltham, stated that on Saturday, 15th instant, he went to the station and examined thp. store room and window. He could see the bottom window had been forced up, and the two nails on each side had been bent up. Eootmarks were noticeable on the sill on the outside, showing vheie a person had stepped up. Finger marks on the window were also apparent. Later he interviewed accused. After enquiring into his movements, he asked his name, Poult6n replying "Austin Del--1 mar." He told him ho would have to go to the station and be searched. Accused objected, stating that he would not be searched without a charge being laid against him. He told him he was suspected of breaking into the railway station at Eltham. Accused replied: "You are wrong." He searched accused, and found a pocket book and card case with the name "J. Graham." These were identified as the property of the previous witness. Asked about other articles found, accused claimed that they were his own property. He asked him where his luggage was, accused replying that it , was in the stables up the road. Constable Liston, Kaponga, then went to the stables, and found the suit ease, hand bag and rug there. Other artielos found were the property of E. Zimmerman, slaughterman, Eltham, and formed a Becond charge against accused. The latter claimed the hand bag and suit case, but regarding the rug, accused made no reply. Accused was formally committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth, on December 4. The second charge was then proceeded with. E. Zimmerman, slaughterman. Eltham, said he rented a whare on Railway street south. On the 14th instant, when he left the whare at 0 a.m., the door was locked by a padlock, two wires passing through the door and a post. On returning shortly after 10 p.m. he roand the door open, and the wires pulled out of the door. He found the place disturbed, and clothes, watch, etc., missing. He ' identified the articles in court as his. After other evidence had been taken, Poulton was committed for trial. Denis Brew charged with being found drunk in Bridge street, was fined 10s. The promoters of the concert in aid of the blind soldiers' hostel, have every reason to be gratified with the financial results achieved. The x secretary of the Overseas Club (Mr. W. D. Rossi believes this will be in the vicinity of £OO. The audience included visitors from all parts of the province.