A SERIES OF THEFTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 6

A SERIES OF THEFTS.

'ADVENTURES OF TWO YOUTHS. COMMITTED TO SUPREME COURT. The Magistrate's Court yesterday was occupied in hearing a number of charges of breaking and entering, and theft, which had occurred in various places about New Plymouth, alleged against two youths. Jack Johnston and Francis Douglas Still were charged; with on or about August 28, breaking and entering the dwelling of Frederick Wallis, and steal-' ing therefrom a gold wristlet watch, of the value of £3 10s and a money-box containing 5s lOd. Frederick Wallis said his residence was at the corner of Pendarves Street and Carrington road. The house was left unoccupied during several hours of the middle part of every day eexcept Sunday while attending to his business as a restaurant keeper. When away from the house the doors were locked in the usual way, though the windows might be left open. On August 31 he missed a money-bos and a child's wristlet watch, which had been removed from the dressing table in the front bedroom. The watch produced was his little girl's. It was worth about £3 lCs. There was no sign at that time that the contents of the house had been in any way disturbed. The watch was not worn very often and might have been missing for a day or two before the date mentioned. Neils A. Christiansen, geeond-hand dealer, Devon Street, said the accused Johnston came to his shop on September 1, and brought a small wristlet watch to him. The one produced was the watch he brought. He asked .£1 for it, but accepted 15s, signing his name in the book as "E. J. Junson." The watch was put in the window for sale, and subsequently Mrs Wallis came and asked to be allowed to look at it. He showed it to her, and she said it was hers and it had been stolen. He took the watch back from Mrs Wallis, and handed it over to Detective Fitzgibbon. Detective Fitzgibbon said he received a complaint from Mr Wallis that some property was missing from his house, and later the same day he received the watch produced from Christiansen. He saw accused the same day in a billiard saloon, and he admitted having sold a watch to Christiansen that morning. He said a young fellow named Still gave it to him. He arrested accused, who made a statement admitting that in company with Still he entered the house of Mr ■Wallis and stole the gold watch. He did not see Still take anything from the house. After they left the house Still showed him a money-box which he had got, and they broke it open and found it contained Ss 3d. The statement was made voluntarily by Johnston, after proper warning, and he signed it. . On September 3rd he (witness) saw Still who admitted knowing Johnston, and seeing by the paper that he had been arrested for breaking, entering and theft. Witness read the statement made by Johnson, to Still, who admitted that the part alluding to the money-box was true. He arrested Still, who made a signed statement voluntarily, after the usual warning, in which ho admitted going to Wallis' houso with Johnston, at the latter's suggestion, and stated that Johnston took the money-box. Later in the day he saw Johnston again and he had a gold wristlet watch which he said he had got up at Wallis'. Mr A. H. Johnstone, who appeared for Still, entered a plea of guilty and accused was committed to the Supreme [Court for sentence.

Johnston pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial.

The accused were also jointly charged with on August 17, breaking and entering the dwelling of Wm. Allen, of Vogeltown, and stealing therefrom the sum of £l, a gold cameo brooch (valued £1 15s) and 7s 6d in cash, the property of Gertrude Allen.

Wm. Allen said that on Sunday, August 17, he and his family were away from the house from about'lo.4o a.m. till 5 o'clock in the afternoon. As they went away in the morning he saw two young men sitting on a bank just below the house. He was positive Still was one of them but he did not know the other man. Still knew witness' house quite well. The doors of the house were locked but windows left open—they always left windows open when going out. On returning his wife found a gate near the traphouae open, which he was positive he had closed and locked before going away. They missed nothing that evening, but the next day his wife asked liim if he had taken a 10s note that he had given her the previous morning. He replied he had not, and his wife said it was missing from lier bag. Some silver which he had left in the pocket' of his trousers was mißsing, and a small knife which he valued as a keepsake. Mr Johnstone said he did not wish to object to such evidanee being taken down but pointed out that unless the same money and the same knife were found in the possession of the accused it could prove nothing against them and' was more or less irrclevent.

Sub-Inspector Hutton said it was quite in order for him to ask if anything waK misßed from the house, and showed that the place had been systematically searched.

The Magistrate said that as evidence of the place having been entered it might have some slight value. Continuing, witness said a handkerchief which smelled strongly of tobacco had been found in a draw in his wife's duchcsse. Jt did not belong to any of the family. His wife told him she found the handkerchief.

In reply to the accused Johnston, witness saiH there was a 10s note and 2s (Id missing from his wife's bag and from 5s to 7s from his daughter's room.

Evidence was also given by Gertrude Allen to the effect that on tho. occasion in question she missed a sum of money and a gold comeo brooch from her room. Detective Fitzgibhon gave evidence as to the arrest of Johnston on September ], on another charge. He then had in his possession the gold cameo brooch produced, which he said was his own. A few days later it was identified by Miss Allen as hers, and Johnston, when seen and charged with breaking and entering Mr Allen's house, made no reply. On September 4, witness saw the accused Still and arrested him, .and he made a signed statement in which he admitted going to the house of Mr Allen with Johnston, who suggested going in. They took several sums of money from dilFerenfc places in the house, and Johnston remarked: "I think we've got enough row." Later, down the road, Johnston showed him a gold brooch which he said he had got at Allen's. Johnston pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial, and Still pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence. Bail was granted in the case of Still in his own recognisance of £25 and one surety of a similar amount,

Jack Johnston was also charged with the theft of a pair of motor gloves, valued at 17s 6d. the property of Arthur L. Hunttr, tine tUagcd effinet_b»Ylfyi tak**.

place at New Plymouth on or about August 28. Arthur L. Hunter, land and estate agent, New Plymouth, said the gloves produced were his property. He- last used them on August 28. Ho was in the habit of leaving them on the seat of his motor car when not driving. He missed the gloves a day or two after the date mentioned. He did not complain to the police, but. on seeing a notice that they were seeking the owner of a pair of motor gloves he saw Detective Fitzg'ibbon, whom he told he could identify the gloves by a mark on them which was caused by the fusing of a wire. The gloves produced were marked in such a way, and he had no doubt about them being his. Detective Fitzgibbon stated that when he arrested accused on September 1, on another charge, lie had a. pair of gloves in his possession. He saw him later and told him the gloves had been identified by Mr Hunter as his property, and when asked where he got them accused admitted taking them from a motor car in the street.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Johnston was further charged with breaking and entering and stealing from the dwelling of Roy F. Clarke, Smart Road* New Plymouth, on August 20, the sum of £7.

Evidence was given by Clarke to the effect that on the evening of August 19 lit. met Johnston and took him out to his house, where he stayed till about 7 o'clock. He did not leave Johnston alone in his room for more than from three to five minutes. He remembered putting £7 away in a portmanteau earlier in the day. He never opened the portmanteau in the presence of Johnston. On the following day he went to get some of the money at about 11 a.m. and found it missing. He had a man and two boys living in the house, but they went away to work and school eyery day, and there would be no one in the house after eight o'clock in the morning. While away from the house the front door was usually locked and the back door bolted.

Detective Fitzgibbon deposed to arresting accused who made a statement admitting the offence. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence.