ALLEGED THEFT

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 206, 29 August 1918, Page 2

ALLEGED THEFT

FROM A PAWNSHOP WINDOW. I William Joseph Gaffey (37), was , charged at the Police Court to-day that on Monday last week he broke and entered the shop of Moss Robinson and stole jewellery to the value of £58 17/6. Evidence was to the effect that about 8 pjn. on the date in question, James Wright, a retired farmer, of Ponsonby, saw accused, somewhat under the influence of liquor, standing before the window of Robinson's pawnshop in Victoria Street. Wright, who I had moved on, said he heard a crash, looked back, and saw accused with both hands through a hole in the window, evidently grabbing at something. Then accused ran away, and immediately Robinson junior came out of the pawnshop, gave chase and caught accused in Federal Street. A. G. Greenwood, labourer, gave similar evidence as to hearing the crash, and 6eeing accused fumble at a hole in the window, then run away and get captured without going out of witness , ' sight. Other evidence was given that the window had been broken by a tailor's i pressing iron, which had been put outside the shop door -for sale, and that gold alberts and watches, which had been in the window, were found in the street, some of them near to where the accused was caught. Myer Robinson stated that accused was the only man near the window jnst after witness heard the crash, and he was runnmcr, so witness chased and caught him. Accused ! made no remark about the matter. 1 Accused, who pleaded not guilty, and ' reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.