"I WAS AFRAID."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 7

"I WAS AFRAID."

Surprised at Shortages.

THEFTS FROM SHOP.

GOODS WORTH £217.

WINDOW DRESSER'S CRIME,

ALLEGED RECEIVER BLAMED,

In admitting that he had stolen an assortment of clothing of a total value of £217 3/1 from the shop where he was employed, John Burns, aged 29, a window dresser, who came before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court this morning, alleged that he committed the thefts at the suggestion of another man ana fulfilled whatever orders he was given by him. Burns, for whom Mr. Allan Moody appeared, was charged with the theft on July 10 of two suit lengths valued at £3 12/, the property of Alfred Bevege and Company, and also, between April 8 and July 15, 193G, with stealing seven suit lengths, 20 overcoats, 49 shirts, 14 suits, 73 hats, two dressing gowns, one blazer, six pairs of pyjamas, 24 pairs of socks, 24 ties, 24 sets of silk underwear, six pullovers, one scarf, one cap, two pairs of braces and two sets of woollen underwear, of a total value of £213 11/1, the property of the same ■firm. Senior Detective .Hall prosecuted. Statements to Detective. Detective F. J. Brady, who interviewed accused and subsequently arrested him, produced two statements made by Burns in which he admitted stealing all the goods mentioned in the charges. Detective Brady first read a statement which he obtained from Burns on July 19. In this Burns said he had been employed by Alfred Bevege and Company as a window dresser and salesman for the past 18 months. About two years ago he met a certain man in "Wellington. About four months ago he again met him in Auckland. He came into the shop to make some purchases. "One day he suggested to me, 'Was there any chance of getting anything out of Bevege's,'" said Burns. "I knew by that remark what he meant, and I told him there was no chance. Later on he again suggested that I should steal clothing from my firm. He told me there would be something in it for me. He said he would fix it for me to get something out of it. The first things that I stole were three shirts, about Easter time. That was the first transaction that took place." Burns added in his statement that all the property mentioned in the above charges he had stolen from Be\ege s during the past two months, and had sold to the man mentioned, who had given him about a quarter of the' value of each article. He knew that accused was stealing the clothing from the firm. The property stolen consisted of orders accused had fulfilled for that man. "He also asked me to let him have any old dockets that were lying about the shop," Burns said in the statement. "The ten dockets now in the possession of the police are what I gave him. They do not represent sales made to him. Five are in my handwriting. He is the onlv man I have had dishonest dealings with. I did not approach him in any way. It was his suggestion that I should steal from my employers and sell to him. He has not made any genuine purchases since Easter. No other employee in the firm is implicated in these thefts."

In a further statement, matfe _on August 7, Burns said he was surprised at the final figures showing the shortages. He did not think he had taken so much. He agreed with the figures showing the total amount of clothing stolen as £217 3/1. He said that all these goods the other man received. Burns said he got about one-third of their value. The procedure in each instance in which Burns stole goods was that the other man would either ring liim on the telephone or would meet him at 1 p.m. when Burns went to luncli. "He would then give me the sizes and colour of the articles he required," continued Burns in his second statement. "I formed the opinion that he wanted the articles ordered for someone else. After I had stolen one or two articles at the start I then realised that if I kept on stealing goods that I would be found out. I decided to finish with him, and I told him I would have to cut it out. He then' told me I would have to get the goods that he required, otherwise my firm would get to know, and that he would be out of Auckland. I then foolishly gave in to him and stole goods from my firm whenever he required them. I was afraid that he would keep to his word and inform my employers that I was stealing goods from the firm." Committed in Custody. "I knew him to be a showman by occupation, and I thought he would only be in Auckland a few weeks and that when he left he would leave me alone. Up till the time of my arrest I was stealing articles of clothing and making them up in parcels for him on an average of three times a week. I have never taken clothing to his flat. I have never been there. I am prepared, and am now in a position through the help of friends, to make restitution in full to Mr. Bevege." In answer to Mr. Moody, Detective Brady said Burns had been quite frank about the matter, and had given the police every assistance. Mr. Moody: Knowing the two men as you do, do you believe Burns when he says that knowing the other was a showman he might clear out?— Yes, 1 believe him. After Detective A. Moore had given evidence concerning the taking of statements from Burns by Detective Brady, Burns pleaded guilty to both charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Bail was refused. Remanded Till Thursday. Arthur Ernest Tapp, agecl 44, described as a billiard marker, was charged this morning with receiving from John Burns, on July 16, two suit lengths valued at £3 12/, well knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. He was further ehaiged that between April 8 and July 15 he received a quantity of clothing to the value of £43 13/4 from Burns, which had been stolen, well knowing the same to have cc " dishonestly obtained. Tapp was further remanded to appear on Thursday. Accused, ,nr toil appeared, was grantea his bail.