THE HOUSEBREAKING CASES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3077, 23 December 1908, Page 5

THE HOUSEBREAKING CASES.

THREE ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT.

TWO PLEAD GUILTY.

At the Mastcrton Police Court yesterday, before Messrs E. G. Eton and R. Brown, J.P's., three young men named Edward Richard Black, alias Wilson, and Charles Henderson, alias James Davis, and Onirigo Tolley, alias Freeman, were jointly charged that they did, on the 18th December, break and enter into the dwelling house of Frederick W.

Temple, and steal therefrom one gold ring and one gold watch, valued at £5; that they did break and enter into the dwelling house of Agnes B.

Yates and steal therefrom one gold ring, one gold neck chain, with cross attached, three bottlss of beer and a bottle of stout, the total value of which was £8; with breaking and entering into the dwelling of Mary Treder, and stealing therefrom the sum of about £7 in money; that they did break and enter idto the dwelling house of Hannah Day, and steal,

therefrom a metal watch and chain valued at 15s; with breaking and entering the dwelling house of Evelyn J. Wright, and stealing therefrom one gold watch, gold bangle, locket neck chain, pendant, greenstone brooch, three gold brooches, one pair gold sleeve links and three bottles of stout, of the total value of £24; wilh breaking and entering the residence, at Carterton, of George E. Allen, and stealing therefrom a set of gold sleeve lir-ks, a gold brooch, silver brooch, one pudding, one custard, valued at £2 6s. The three accused were not represented by Counsel. Sergeant Miller conducted the prosecution.

Sergt. Miller stated that the three accused were seen between 11 and 12 o'clock on the 18th instant in Masterton, and also in the vicinity of the houses broktn into at various times. Later they were arrested and the property alleged to have been stolen was found in their possession. P. W. Temple, residing at the corner of Pownall and Renall Stre its, stated that he left for work on the 18th in the morning, the house being closed until mid-day, and being again closed during witness' absence at work duri.vg the afternoon. Witness' son drew his attenton in the evening to the fact that a writing case had been torn open. Investigation showed that a gold watch and chain, and a ladies' gold ring were missing. Witness identified the articles produced as those stolen. Entrance was apparently made through a window. Stanley Frederick Temple, so. - : of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. He stated that the watch was stolen from under his pillow, where he had left it. Alice M. Leech, wife of R. D. Leech, who livts nearly opposite the residence of Mr Temple, said she saw three men near the house afc mid-day on the 18 ( th. Two ot them entered the grounds of the house, one sitting down on the kerbing of the fo3tpath outside. The two men spent about ten minutes in the house and left by the back fence of the premises. The three men then went on up Renall Street to the Upper Plain, Agnes B. Yates, widow, residing in Cornwall Sreet, deposed that on the 18th instant she left her house to go out. On returning there were evidences of the house having been entered, and witness then missed the • articles set out in the charge sheet, i Mary Treder, widow, residing in I Short Street, said she left her house ; to go out on the 18th instant, locking ! every window except one—the dairy j window. Witness left a sum of I money in the house, though how much j she could not s?y. 1c was all in silver, j On returning home she found the ' house had been entered and very j much ransecked. All the money had gone. Some eggs were also missing. !

John Cummings, letter carrier, said he was in Short Street at 11 o'clock in the morning, and saw three men in that thoroughfare. He recognised accused Tolley as one of them. They were then close to Mrs Trader's house. Latsr witness saw them in Cor, wall Street and Railway Road. Tney were close to Mrs Yates' house in Cornwall Street.

Houston M. Boddington, resident of Shurt Street, said that on Friday last he was going from home at 1.30 p.m. He saw accused Tolley about a hundred yards from Mrs Treder's house, walking towards town. On looking back witness saw Tolley retrace his steps towards Mrs Treador's. Hannah Day, widow, residing in High Street, said she left her house locked up eariv on Friday afternoon. At five o'clock she returned and found the kitchen window broken just above the fastening. Nothing belonging to witness was taken from the premises.

Miriam Jorgensun, employed by the last witness, said she left the house with Mrs Day at 2 p.m. on Friday, driving a trqp. She noticed three men about two or three hundred yards from the house in High Street, when leaving. bhe thought that accused Tolley was one of them. The watch and cord produced belonged to witness, and were found to be missing from the house. Laura M. Wright, wife of E. J. Wright, dairy inspector of High Street, said that she left home to go out for the afternoon on Friday. At 6 o'clock she returned and found the house had been entered and the back door was open. A gold watch was found to be taken and other articles of jewellery contained in a jewel tray. Three or four bottles of stout and some scones were missed. Witness noticed three young men on the road, going in the direction of her bouse, when leaving to go out.

Ernest E. Woodley, carter, said that on Friday he met the three accused at about 3 o'clock in High Street, they being about twelve chains from Mr Wright's residence. Witness later overtook the accused, who were going in the direction of Carterton. One of them asked witness for a ride, and witness gave them all a ride. Accused Henderson asked if he could give witness a drink, and pulled a bottle of stout out of his pocket. AH in the cart had a drink. The bottle was thrown over a fence by the roadside, <*nd a second bottle of stout was then consumed. At the Waingawa bridge the accused got out, saying they were going to Carterton.

Harold H. Liddel), wool-scourer, living on Upper Plain Road, said that at 1.5 p.m. on Friday he saw three men sitting on a box under a tree in Mr John Yates' paddock, opposite Mrs Yates' property. After hearing of the robbery witness inspected the spot where tne men were sitting and found some empty beer bottlss. George Edward Allen, farmer, of Taratahi, said that his house was left locked up, with the exception of the windows, on Friday afternoon, from .

about 1.45 o'clock. Witness returned from Carterton at about 6 o'clock. Witness' house had been entered by the kitchen window, a flower being broke in the process. Several articles were missed from the house, also a pudding and a custard and a bottle of ale. Constable Carmody deposed that he and Constables Townserid and Ingram arrested accused outside the Royal Oak Hotel. Black and Tolley said they came to Carterton by the express train from Wellington that day, and denied they had been further up the line. The sum of $1 8s lOd was found on Black, and various articles of jewellery on the other two. They were formally charged with breaking and entering at Masterton. They made no reply. Constables Ingram End Townsend also gave evidence. On the usual charge being put after the conclusion of the evidence, accused Biack said he had nothing to say, but Tolley and Henderson expressed a desire to give evidence. Accused Tolley said he and the other two accused arrived at Carterton on Thursday by the eight o'clock train, and they took the road for Masterton, staying there that night. At noon on Friday, Henderson and witness left Black in Kuripuni, and did not see him again till about 4 p.m. on the road to Carterton. Black knew nothing about witness and Henderson's whereabouts until Constable Carmody met them in Carterton.

By Sergt. Miller: Witness stayed in'Masterton that night at a friend's. They arrived in Masterton about 11 o'clock at night. Next morning they spent their time in town. It was in the forenoon when the postman met witness, and Black and Henderson j were then in front of witness. Wit- | ness sat by the roadside near the i house from which they were charged I with stealing the watch. Witness and Henderson went into the house. Henderson having first gone to the house (Mr Temple's) to get a drink. Witness would not say whethe/r Mrs Leech was speaking the truth when she said she saw Henderson and Black join witness after visiting the house. Witness later denied that Black was in his and Henderson'scompany after leaving this house. Witness said he "supposed" he took the jewellery found on him. Witness and Henderson entered Mrs Treder's house, through the window. Witness saw no money in the house. Henderson and witness met Black again in High Street after first having proceeded as far as the Waingawa bridge in search of him. Witness admitted that he and Henderson broke into Mrs Day's and also Wright's. Witness said he and Henderson walked to Allen's house and robbsd ifc, and then returned to High Street, Masterton, to meet Black. The Sergt. here asked witness if he were not at one time in gaol with accused Black. Witness replied that he had once awaited trial with Black. The Sertg. then asked if witness was aware that Black stood a chance of being found an habitual criminal. Accused Black objected to this question, which was not answered. Witness continuing, denied that he and Henderson had agreed between themselves to take the whole responsibility for the offences. Accused Henderson next gave evidence on similar lines to that given by Tolley. Witness had been previously sentenced for thefts at Masterton. This was all the evidence. Accused Black then pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial the to Wellington Supreme Court. Henderson' and Tolley pleaded guilty, and were remanded to the Supreme Court for sentence.