BURGLARY CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1942, Page 4

BURGLARY CHARGES

SOLDIER ADMITS GUILT CONSTABLE ASSAULTED. ACCUSED MAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Three charges of breaking and entering and theft and one. of assaulting a- constable were preferred against George Foster, a soldier, when he appeared before Messrs A. D. Low and J. Caselberg, J.’sP., in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court this morning. The accused pleaded guiltj- and was committed for sentence at the next sitting of the Supreme Court, in Wellington. Both Constable Williams and the accused still bore evidence of their struggle. The charges related to breaking and entering the shop of C. Smith Ltd., Masterton, on July 25 and stealing a man’s gabardine overcoat, three pairs of khaki drill shorts, a suitcase and three suits of pyjamas, of a total value of £l5 19s 9d; breaking and entering the shop of C. K. Goodin, Carterton, on August 8 and stealing a seven-valve radio set valued at £25 and similarly cn August 9 with stealing a ten-valve radio set valued at £35. The fourth charge was one of assaulting Constable Frederick John Williams on August 10 in the execution of 'his duty. Mr R. McKenzie appeared for accused. Constable Williams gave evidence to the effect that, following on the discovery of one of the missing radio sets concealed among some shrubs on a vacant section in Carterton, on the same evening he hid himself neai- the set. He saw. a man approach flashing a torch and go to where the set was hidden. Witness approached and told him “the game was up.” The accused said: “I’ll be quiet.” However, he tried to break away. Witness threw him to the ground and held him a few minutes, expecting assistance. ‘While endeavouring to get his hands in positioff'to handcuff him, accused managed to get one of his arms free and picked up his torch, hitting witness on the forehead with it. This made' witness somewhat dazed which enabled accused to release his other arm and roll cn top of witness, who then managed to draw his baton and hit accused on the head twice. Witness was then struck on the head again. Accused broke away. Witness ran 100 yards after him, but collapsed on the footpath. Constable Williams said he had to have eleven stitches inserted in his forehead. Later a soldier’s cap, with a name and number inside, and a military cape, were found on the scene of the struggle. Detective-Sergeant William Kane testified .to having arrested the accused, who had to receive medical attention for a head injury. In a statement made to the detective, accused admitted the theft of the radio sets and to having a struggle with the constable. He said he knew the man who had accosted him was a policeman. Two other soldiers were accomplices in the thefts of the radio sets.

Evidence was also given by Messrs C. K. Goodin, J. F. Roberts (manager of C. Smith, Ltd.), and Constable A. W. Nalder. According to the evidence most of the goods stolen from C. Smith Ltd. were recovered in the accused’s possession.