PONSONBY ROAD ROBBERY

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 5

PONSONBY ROAD ROBBERY

NIGHT WATCHMAN CHARGED

A night watchman named Jerome Furlong was charged before Mr T. Hutchison to-day with breaking and entering the shop of Frederick Webley, Ponsonby Road, one which he was supposed to ■watch, and stealing 17 ties, 4 flannels, 3 shirts, a felt hat, a jersey, 10 pairs socks, 2 pieces tweed, 10 collars, 4 pairs of braces, and 2 pairs of swimming trunks, value £6 13/3. Chief-Detective C4race prosecuted and Mr J. C. Martin defended.

Frederick Webley, a tailor, of Ponsonby Road, stated that the accused was employed as a night watchman on a portion of the road. The shop was locked up at 11 o'clock on the night of Saturday, July 11, and witness left the key on /the inside of the back door. He next went there on the Monday, and found the key of the back door missing. Accused called at the shop during the day and brought the key, asking if it was witness' property, and stating that he found the back door wide open at 2.30 on the Sunday morning. He added that he went inside as far as the workroom door, and then went for a policeman, so that he should not be blamed if anything was missing. When a constable came they examined the shop and found the things disarranged, but the till secure. Furlong went away, but in the evening ho brought a sugar bag to the shop, in which was "found a pair of braces and some socks. Accused remarked that he believed they belonged to witness, and there were more to follow. He stated that he had found them in the back stable.

Questioned by Mr Martin as to Furlong's general reputation for sanity, witness said he did not believe him to be "all there." He gave Furlong a tip of 2/6 for finding the key.

Constable Sims, who was on night duty when Furlong alleged the robbery , took place, said that the accused did not call him to see the premises. A few days later, however, he told witness that some things had been missed from Mr Webley's shop, and he had found the door open. Accused asked if witness would say he accompanied him to the shop, so that he would not get into trouble. After further evidence of a formal nature, His Worship asked -the prosecution how it was suggested Furlong got into the shop. Mr Grace replied that he must have had a key for the front door. Furlong pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court.