MASTER OF BURGLARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 109, 10 May 1928, Page 10

MASTER OF BURGLARS.

CAUGHT IN CHRISTCHUfiCH. TWO "EMPLOYEES" IN GAOL. GOODS FOUND CONCEALED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. Described by the Crown prosecutor as "a receiver in a large way," and a handy outlet for criminals for the disposal of stolen goods, James William Falkingliam was found guilty in the Supreme Court to-day of receiving on March 17 and 18 a quantity of tobacco, cigars and drapery valued at £109, knowing the goods to have been stolen. The Crown prosecutor said that accused had practically retained two burglars and instructed them where to make their robberies. Two dangerous criminals, Trethcway and Brisbane, toured up and down the country by car, breaking into country stores and taking goods to lalkingham. These two men were both now serving sentences. Falkingham, they had stated, got all the proceeds of the robberies, giving them only trifling sums. When the police searched accused's house they found goods concealed in various parts of the house. Accused had sold some of the goods to traders, declearing they were part of bankrupt stock. He was in the act of trying to sell more to a tobacconist in the 'city when the police arrived. Evidence was given by storekeepers who had been robbed, by a hotel licensee and two tobacconists to whom accused had sold goods, and by George Tretheway, one of the thieves now serving a sentence of three years. The jury returned their verdict after 15 minutes' deliberation. Prisoner was remanded for sentence.