BURGLARY CHARGES.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 March 1922, Page 6

BURGLARY CHARGES.

SEQUEL TO POLICE CHASE. THREE MEN IN COURT. MANY CHARGES PENDING Terrill, Gemmill and McKay, after whom the police had an exciting chase a week ago, came before the Styatlord Magistrate’s Court yesterday. On Thursday last, as a result of a report of burglary down the line, the police were on the alert, and when the suspects arrived in Ngaere the police got in touch with them. McKay was arrested about nightfall, Gemmill was found in the church at Cardiff early on the following morning, and Terrill was run down later in the day in the vicinity of Waipuku. Terrill and Gemmill were charged with stealing from the residence of Horace Nowall, Climie Road, the sum of £2 10s, the property of Veronica Groshinski, and from adjacent premises a hat, the property of Basil Haggo, and a shaving set, the property of John O’Connor. Sergeant Dale said Terrill belonged to New Plymouth. Gemmill recently came from Auckland, though he belonged to Hawera. Terrill and Gemmill got together at New Plymouth, leaving there on February 16.

Constable Chestnutt gave evdience that he arrested Terrill near Waipuku on March 3, after a long chase. On being arrested Terrill said: “I won’t steal if I can find work, but if I can’t find work I’ll steal every time.”

Sergeant Dale said he arrested Gemmill at 5 a.m. on March 3, in a small church near Cardiff. The night previous he had escaped from the police who attempted to arrest him on Climie Road. Gemmill subsequently made a statement to witness, a copy of which would be put in, the original being retained by witness for use as evidence in charges against accused which would be heard at Hawera, Patea and /Vanganui. Gemmill said he was 18 years of age, his parents residing at Hawera. He met Terrill at New Plymouth, and left there on February 16. They went to Eltham by train, and returned to Climie Road. Gemmill knocked at the door of a house, but nobody answered, and he and Terrill went in. Gemmill took nothing, but Terrill took £2 10s, giving Gemmill £1 ss. Then they travelled down the line to W'anganui. Wanganui was left on February 27. Near Waverley a revolver was stolen. A few miles from Normanby they entered a house and stole a razor and a water bottle. They proceeded up the line and came in touch with the police at Ngaere. Gemmill said he had no part in the attempt on McGregor’s house at Wanganui on February 26. Terrill, in a statement, said he was 20 years of age, and lived with his mother at New Plymouth. He, McKay and Moffitt were concerned in the attempt on McGregor’s place. Both men pleaded guilty, and were coml mitted to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Terrill, Gemmill and McKay were next charged with the theft on March 2 of a money box, razor and water bottle from the residence of Arthur Powell at Normanby.

On the application of Sergeant Dale an adjournment till March 13 at Hawera was granted.

Sergeant Dale said that many thefts in the vicinity of Hawera had to be investigated. Reports of thefts kept dribbling in, one being received that morning. It was proposed to remand prisoners to Wellington for sentence, but it was finally decided to commit them to New Plymouth. Sergeant Dale said he had received information that prisoners might probably plead “not guilty” to charges to be laid in other courts, though they would probably be committed for trial, in which case the *al would take place at New Plymouth.