THE RECENT BURGLARIES

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3546, 17 December 1881, Page 2

THE RECENT BURGLARIES

CHAKGES AGAINST PLUMMEtt.

(YESTEBDAY CONCLUDED )

The following evidence taken in the charge of breaking and entering Mr Heath's shop in Symonds-street, preferred by the police BgainstF(re3.Pinmmcr, was held over from las,t evening's iesue :— T. B. Heatb, in answer to questions pot by prisoner, deposed that he had not made any boots similar to those produced during the last few months. Had made similar boots previously to that. He had a large number of two shilling pieces every Saturday night, and usually had more florins then th;.ii any other com. His brother reported to the police that the money was stolen, but no mention was made of the boots. He did not swear that those boots were stolen from his shop, Never remembered a clcan-Bbaved man similar to one who would be an overseer on a railway construction contract buying anything from him. Did not believe that he ever sold the prisoner anything, but wonld not swear that He had not a very good memory for faces. * To Mr Pardy— He knew a few instances in which a man had bought a woman's boot for his own wear. Prisoner was not one of these.

George Hazel, fruiterer, of Upper By-monds-strect, and neighbour of the last witness, deposed that his shop wag broken into on the night of Jane 26th, or mornine of the 27th, and about 10 shillings worth of coppers stolen. He was told that Mr Heath's and Mrs Wright's houses, the latter adjoining hie, had been robbed on the same night The houses wore all in a line, and anyone could go by the back to the three, by getting through or over the fences.

David Horwitz, furnitire dealer, Pitt, street, repeated the evidence given by him in the last case. He produced his book, and pointed oat that he bad made % mi;take in reference to the price of the chain. The price paid for them was 5a each, and not 4s (Al a* previously stated, making the total £114s instead of £1 12k Gd.

His Worship: Then the prisoner ia'right for once.

Witness: Yes, your Worship. Prisoner said he had been wronged by bo many witnesses that if the truth were only known things would take a very different complexion. Mr Pardy remarked that, according to tbe prisoner, no one was telling the truth but himself.

Messrs Hazel and Horwitz, and Con(tables Stratheorn and Bernard were examined.

Mr Party said he wished to call another witness, but as he was not present an adjournment would be desirable.. Adjourned till 10.30 a.m. to-morrow. The Court then rose. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDIKGS,

Frederick Plummer was brought op in answer to a charge of breaking into the house of Thcophijus B. Heath, on the 26th June, and committing a felony thsre,—Mr .Pardy re-called Mr Heath, who was ex* . omiued yesterday:—The prisoner stated that he was in witneai'a place about a year ago, and that a clean-shaved man came in at the time, and that be, prisoner, bought the boots. Prisoner could not have purchased the boots in November, because ■ they were not made then. Remembered seeing a quantity of florins in prisoner's possession. Had never received bucU a quantity from any person in payment—To prisoner: I never remember selling you anything.—This was the case for the proas* cation. ANOTHER CHARGE. The prisoner was then charged with breaking and entering the premises of Arthur UtibVnna'NV right, otSymou&s-ttnefc, acd committing a felony therein,—Mr Vat d\ opened wo case, itii stated that ou the 22nd May last, Mr Wright and bis family tetired to test, leaving their shop and premises securely fastened. Vwdng the eight some person or persons broke into the premises and stole cigarettes, a knife and papeT. A corresponding knife was 1 found iv prisoner's possession. Be would, however, strike oat tbc paper Irom the iv« 1 formation.—Prisoner: I wish it to remain. It is one of the most absurd of all the charge?, but an important point in my favour.—His Worship considered the matter of small importance.— Arthur Hobbina Wright deposed that he resided in Upper Syniomla-street; lived there in May last; Mrs Wright attends to the shop ; remembered Saturday, the 22nd May.at least he believed that was the date; be laid the iutormatim on the following Monday ; went to bed between Hand 12 . that night; he bolted the back, and locked ' the front door; did not bolt the sash window; it was very stiff, never troubled about it; arose at 7 the next (Sunday* morning; he noticed that the door leading from the sitting-room Into the back room was wide open; felt at once there was something wrong; found another door open; .went into the shop, left the money, the previous day's takings, in the till; never neplcct.dit before. There were about 18s in silver, and 5a coppers. Left the silver' in one box, and the coppers in another.. The money could be seen by anyone looking in the window. He missed the money, a ' knife, several pacicets of cigarettes, and, Bomo time after, a box of cigars, value 16s. Did not miss the cigars until three weeks after. It was a new knife, fattened on to one of Lockwood's cards. There Were six knives on the card, bnt only one was taken, I Had never seen prisoner in Symonds-street, 1 but. bad seen him at the Governor Browne Hotel. Never sold him any writing-paper, Hia house had since been broken into; exactly in the same way.—To prisoner: The selling price of the knife is 3s 6d.— I Prisoner: I gave half-a-crown for that knife. You get cent, per cent, then on your knives.—Witness:. That would not alter your cafe.—Prisoner: Certainly nob —Elizabeth Wright, wife of the last wit* ness, corroborated the evidence of her husband respecting the rob* bery and the missing articles. Did I not know the prisoner. Bid not remem- ■ ber selling any paper to him. The packet produced was similar to that in her husband's shop. Only sold one packet.— To prisoner: Often had to rice from a meal to attend a customer. She had a gray dress. Did not recollect being asked for a packet of paper ont of the window.— Prisoner: That'i wondrously strange.— Witness: Do not remember you buying any. Kept envelopes on a shelf. Did not remember telling you to help yourself to a ;•:',. bottle of girjger-becr. It is of no consequence whether I wear more than one ring. —To His Worship: Did not Sell a packet of paper to prisoner.—Mr Pardy said lie did not charge the prisoner with stealing the paper.—His Worship: Then it is waste of time going any farther with this part. —Mr Pardy said that Mrs Wright had only sold one packet of paper. Prisoner bad said tbat he bought the packet found iv his house of Mrs Wright, and Mrs Wright said I she had sold it to a priest. The prisoner, then, must have been dressed like a priest. - Prisoner asked for the name of the priest—Witness did not know.—Mr Wright recalled.—Only had two packets of that kind of note-paper in his shop. One was taken and the other ■ left. —■ Prisoner: Your Worship, I shall endeavour to discover that priest, so as to connect the < whole thing.—William Stone Pardy, Senior Sergeant, A.C., deposed on the 23rd No* vembcr, ou arresting the prisoner, he found the small knife before referred to on Mr Wright's card in prisoner's vest pocket' hanging up in his bed-room. Found thft packet of paper in the house. Prisoner said he bought that in Mr Wright's shop. He laid the things together on the dteisingtable.—Constable John S. Bernard cor. rpborated Mr Pardy's statement as to find* ing the knife and paper. Prisoner askjo for the knife; was very anxious to get it. There was another knife which he might have bad, but prisoner wanted this par* ; ticular knife.—David Horwitz, furnituredealer, Pitt-street, deposed that the accused called at his shop on a Friday in May—Uio 27th, according to his diary. He spent 6* in purchesing goods. He paid partly > n coppers~3» in coppers, 5s in tilver.—Th« was the evidence for the prosecution. Committed fob Trial. The prisoner was asked if he had anything to say in his defence.—Prisoner: No . defence is needed, but I may state that the ■ knife said to have been stolen was purchased in Wellington in June, 1880, on thj night when Mr Fairclough played "Hamlet." It was altogether ,-»4j game of catching at shadows.--Mr Pardy said if prisoner wished and would give the information as to where he bought the knife in Wellington, the police would render him every assistance.--Prisoner said he was in the employ of _ the Hon. John Johnstone, M.L.C.aI thetimr. Be had no objection to tbe case being tent for trial. He should, however, like to find out the priest who bought tho pacer.—The prisoner" was then fully committed for trial, on the five separate charges, at the next criminal sittings at the Supremo Court.

The Union Co.'g 8.8, Wanaka should arrive about 7 o'oiook tomorrow morning irpmuja . South. She ia announced to return tMttor on Tuesday . - .. .-. '■■ .. 4