PREMISES ENTERED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 39, 25 November 1937, Page 6

PREMISES ENTERED

FOUR IN ASHBURTON. LABOURER PLEADS CUILTY. COMMITTED TO SUPREME COCIiT. Four charges of breaking and entering premises in Ashburton recently were this morning preferred against Albert Edward Lindeloff, a labourer, of Ashburton, when lie was brought before Mr G. Kelly, J.P., and Mr A. H. Fenn, J.P., in the Ashburton Magistrate’s Court. The first "charge heard was that on November 8 lie did break and enter the dwelling-house of R. F. Spellerberg. Ronald Frederick Spellerberg stated that on the night in question he was moving between bis house and his shop. There were no lights in the house. The following morning he noticed that one of the electric lamps had been taken out of the socket. It was lying on a table. As far as lie knew nothing was taken from the house. Constable T. W. Round stated that lie obtained a statement from accused after his arrest, and accused said l in it that ho entered the house by the bathroom window. He removed the lamp so that he could not be recognised if someone entered and switched on the light. He drank a glass of milk and then heard someone coming, so he left the house by the way he went in. Accused pleaded guilty and he was committed for trial at the Supreme Court for sentence. The Secondi Charge. The second charge was that accused broke and entered by night the shop of A. E. Longley, in Wills Street, with intent to commit a crime. Albert Edward Longley, confectioner, said his shop had not been open since' the theatre fire next door to it, on August 19, but there was some stock on the premises. After the date of the breaking and entering, he visited the shop and saw that stock had been disturbed. At the back entrance he found a small keg that would enable a person to reach the catch on the back gate. The rear door was locked, but he saw that an attempt had been made to prise it open. A small piece of glass had been broken out of one of the rear windows, enabling the catch of the window to be reached and released. The back door key was missing, and the lock of the door between the two portions of the shop had been forced, the screws being removed. Stock taken included 6 to 8 packets of wax matches, valued at 10s, other matches valued at 4s, safety matches valued at 6s, six penny stamps, cordials valued at 2s, nut chocolate bars (4s), sweets (ss), an alarm clock (7s 6d), and tumblers' (7s 6d). It appeared that the contents of practically every sweet jar had been sampled. Ho had known accused well for years and had worked with him. He saw a constable find a number of articles and women’s underclothing on tire floor of the shop. There were two beer bottles on the table in the back room, but witness did not know how they got there. On November 15 he saw at the Police Station a number of articles that had been taken from the shop. These included eight pots of colours for writing tickets, ticket brushes (ss), the total value being £3 15s 6d

Constable Round produced a statement made by accused, and gave evidence regarding his observations at the shop. In his statement, accused said (continued witness) that he had arrived in Ashburton at the end of October and had 5s 3d, which he spent in drink. He went to Longley’s shop on the date in question. He tried to dig the putty from the window, but a piece of glass fell out and he opened the catch. He was in the shop for about three-quarters of an hour, and on leaving he filled his pockets with sweets. On- .the next morning he again entered the shop and took the articles referred to. He placed them in the empty butcher’s shop next door. He took the clock to the Domain, where he had been sleeping out since he returned to Ashburton. He placed certain articles and the .women’s clothing in the shop, to give the police the impression that a party had been held there. A third charge, in respect of the breaking and entering lof Longley’s shop on November 7, was taken in conjunction with this charge. Accused pleaded guilty to both these charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. \ A Dwelling Entered. The fourth charge was that on November 10 lie did break and enter the dwelling of Arthur Gordon, with intent to commit a crime. lan Ronald Gordon, residing with his parents at Cameron Street, said that he returned home at 9.30 p.m., entering by the back door, which was open. He turned down the switch, but there was no answering light. In the dining-room he dift the same thing, with a like result. He then found that the lamps had been taken from the holders.' He was accompanied by a friend. A search of the house did not reveal that anything was missing. Constable Round produced a further statement made by accused, in which it was admitted by accused that be went to the bouse to look for food. As soon as be had removed the lamp lie heard vdices near the back door, behind which he hid while two boys entered. Accused then slipped out of the back door.

To this charge accused pleaded guilty, and lie was again committed for sentence. He did not apply for bail, and will be held in. custody till the sitting of the Court.