POLICE COURT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 210, 10 September 1897, Page 8

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

(Before Mr Thos. Hutchison, S.M.)

ADJOXJBNED. — Thos. MoClusky was charged with stealing three billiard balls, value £4 2s Gd, the property of Thos. Quoi. Mr Wilson Smith appeared for the defendant, and asked for a week's remand, •which was granted. [Jail -was allowed in one surety of £25.—Henry Campbell was charged with receiving into his possession from Fredk. Deason and Albert Weeks 141b of tobacco, value £5, knowing the .same to have been dishonestly obtained. The police asked for a week's remand, and Mr Cooper, for the accused, offering no objection, the application was gr&uleil. Alleged Bukaking and Entkkjnc:.— Three young fellows named Frederick Dcason, Albert Weeks (alias A. Benny), ancl John Gunson were charged with that, on or about the 18th ult., they did break and enter the warehouse of Thomas Winglield, in Fortstreet, and steal therefrom one bottle of curry, four bottles of essence, a quantity of perfumery, and 141b of tobacco, total value £5, the property of the said Thomas Winglield. —A boy named Alfred Kush, in the employ of Mr Winglield, deposed that he locked up the premises about 5 p.m. on the 18th ult. ■ Next morning, on goingdown to work, he found the padlock (like the one produced) on the outer door unlocked, and on entering discovered that a number of articles had been stolen. The shop key had been in his possession all the time. There was only the one entrance to the building, and witness was the last to leave. —Thomas Woodhead, manager for Mr Winglield, said that on the morning after the burglary he found 40 tins of tobacco missing 'and about one dozen bottle^^f perfumery and other articles, including a bottle of curry. He could swear to two bottles of scent (produced) as having been Mr Wing-field's property. Other bottles produced were similar to those missing. Witness had a key as well as Kush. The lock required a special key, but was somewhat old and opened rather easily.—Mary Cassidy deposed that the accused Weeks called to see his sister, who did washing for her. She forgot the date. When witness and the sister went into the room to see Weeks some bottles were on the table. Accused had marked the labels with a lead pencil and now idcntilied from bottles (produced) as having been on .lettable when Weeks came. Weeks pointed to the bottles and said " Here you are " to his sister. The bottles were afterwards handed over to the detectives the followingweek.—Mrs Elizabeth Barker and Weeks' sister corroborated Miss Cassidy's evidence. —Sergeant Ellison stated that on the 25th ult., in company with Detective Bailey, he visited Miss Cassidy's house, and asked for certain bottles. She handed over four bottles (produced), and at their request marked them for purposes of identification. Witness found another bottle in the yard, and afterwards obtained a fifth bottle from Weeks' sister. They then went to a house in Cross-street, and from information received they examined the room at the basement, and found a small box, in which was a bunch of keys (produced). A few minutes after, Deason and Weeks came in, and admitted that the room was occupied by them. "Witness, therefore, formally arrested the two. On the following day Deason informed on Gunson (the third accused), and witness and Detective Bailey arrested the latter on the same charge. Deason then said that they sold tbe tobacco to Harry Campbell, in Victoria-street. On the 27th witness heard a statement, signed by Gunson, read over to Deason and Waeks. Neither made any remark. — Detective Bailey corroborated. He took down a statement dictated by Gunson.— Crimson's statement was read out in Court. He stated that about 9 o'clock on the evening of the 17th ult. he met Deason and another in Queen-street, the former of whom said, "Albert's got a door open in Fort-street." "Witness went round with Deason, aud remained outside the building while Deason and Weeks took the lock oil* and went inside. They came out with tins of tobacco and some bottles, which were transferred to a sack. Weeks went for a cab, and returned with a four-wheeler. It was taken to the North Shore ferry tee, •where Deason put the sack inside and the cab then drove up Queen-street. Witness and Weeks then went to "Harry" Campbell's tobacconist's shop in Victoriastreet, and offered the tobacco for

sale. Campbell said he was frightened to buy the tobacco, since last time lie was caught. However, they waited with the cab till Campbell closed the shop, about 10.30 p.m., and he then came down. He said, "Do you think it's all right, boys? Who is the cabman? Do you think he is all right?" Weeks replied that he was " all right," whereupon Campbell took the sack into his shop. He gave'them £1 Iris altogether for the tobacco. The cabman's name was Grogan. They paid him lis and "shouted" him three drinks.—The reading of the above statement concluded the case for the prosecution. The three accused were committed for trial.

A Railway Prosecution. — K. M. Heigh ton was charged on the information of the Railway Department, that he did unlawfully interfere with the drain so as to injure the railway, without having authority to do so.—Ah- Cooper, who appeared for the Department, asked for a week's adjournment, which was granted.