"CAREER OF CRIME”

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20276, 19 August 1937, Page 10

"CAREER OF CRIME”

CROWN ALLEGATIONS. MOTOR MECHANIC'S TRIAL, THEFT AND FORGERY CHARGES. “ This man has been involved in a career of crime," alleged Mr J. R. FitzGerald, who appeared for the Crown, in describing Charles Edward Murphy (41), a motor mechanic, of no fixed abode, who appeared in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, to-day, before Mr Justice Calian, for trial on charges of forgery, theft breaking and entering and stealing a motor-car, and converting another car. “ The case, has a spice of glamour. If tlie title of Public Enemy No. 1 had not been pencilled in, then it could have gone io accused." remarked Mr Douglas Seymour, who was appointed by the Crown to defend Murphy. During fhe trial, police, witnesses described Murphy's record as extensive. The forgery was alleged to have been committed at Ngaruawahia on April 28, the theft, allegedly at Hamilton on May 6, breaking and entering and theft of a ear at Tc Awamutu on May 8, and conversion of a CRr at Rotorua on April 20. Alleged Conversion. Allan William Jones, garage proprietor, of Rotorua, said accused on April 20, approached witness and hired a small car, valued at, £332, for £4 12s 6d, for a trip to Hastings. Witness saw nothing of accused after the car had been taken. On the next day witness received a telegram from accused saying that he had been detained in Hastings. Cross-examined, witness said he did not consider that the damage done to I lie car would be wilful. .Constable McDonald, of Otorohanga, gave evidence of the discovery of the hired car abandoned near the Hangatiki railway station, about a week later, It was damaged and without numberplates, although the number-plates of 5 another car were discovered inside the k vehicle. 1 George Robert, Ilislop, a railway por--1 ter, of Hangaliki, gave evidence of acJ cused hoarding the train for Frankton the same morning. His right eye was | bandaged. i Money Order Offered. ’ Mary Elizabeth O’Day, a shop assistant, employed by Mayer's Bargain • Store, Ngaruawahia, said on April 28 > accused entered the siiop and pur--5 chased a rug and several articles of clothing, the value of which was £3, for which accused tendered a money l order telegram in the name of Rangi ( Wirapa for £8 10s. Tt was cashed amt accused received the change. Tho money order was later banked and returned with a notice saying that tho correct value of I lie order was 10s, the order having been altered before being presented. Thomas Barrett Lindrum, an officer of the Post and Telegraph Department, Hamilton, gave details of the discrepancy between ilic money order telegram and the original file copy. He said that none of the staff could recollect fhe order being lifted by a Maori with an eye-bandage. James Murphy, licensee of the Takapau Hotel, said on May JS accused arrived at the hotel in a iight car. He wished to cash a cheque which was refused. Accused remained drinking and remarked that he. had had some, articles stolen from his car the previous night.. Joseph Meltzer, second-hand dealer, Auckland, said on April 20 he purchased from accused I lie rug, which had previously been purchased in Ngaruawahia. Samuel Ilumm. fitter, of Frankton, said that several articles including gloves, overcoat and wallet had been removed from bis car in Hamilton on May 6. Confusion In Garage. Alvin Frances Quinlan, employee of Craik Motors Ltd., said on May 8 he arrived at the garage and found that the doors were open and a small car was missing. Travellers’ samples, which had been in another car, were strewn over tiie show-room. Crossexamined, witness did not have any grounds for believing that accused was responsible for stealing the car. William James Craik, the proprietor of the garage, described Hie stolen ear, which had special fillings, it was valued at £2OO. He identified some -if the articles in ilic car when if. was found at Napier. Harold Edwin Nicholas, commercial traveller employed by Messrs Boss and Glcndinning. Eld., said liis samples were strewn over I lie garage floor and ■some, valued at about £2O. xvere missing. Witness identified exhibits as his samples. Constable P. Multan, of Takapau. said that he- arrested accused on warrant. for another charge, and on Witness ascertained Hint accused had been driving a -small car which contained all file exhibits in court, and which was later identified as the vehicle missing from Graik's garng". Te Awamutu. Accused admitted to wilness that ids real name was Charles Murphy. To Detective-Sergeant IT. Nuttall, of Napier, the next witness, accused had admitted driving Graik's car from T° Awamulu In Takapau. He bad fhe car at Napier, Gisborne, Wellington and Wanganui in Hie 10 days. Cross-examined, wilness outlined accused's criminal record, which was extensive. Accused has I wire been declared an habitual criminal. Beccnlly •• If we raided Murphy around In Vaco charges against him we would travel throughout. Hie North Island and ke-p going for years,” lie said. " When Murphy is at large the police arc on " When car convertors arc on the warpath they will do anything and fake anyone's car." said witness, who added ilia! Murphy had many names. Mr Seymour suhiuilled Mini Micro were many gaps in Ilic Crown's evidence.