BURGLARS IN CARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 181, 2 August 1928, Page 5

BURGLARS IN CARS.

THREE BEFORE THE COURT. EACH ADMITS MANY CHARGES SEVEN SHOPS ENTERED. FIVE, CARS TAKEN. What was stated by counsel at the Police Court this morning as a "short, sharp burst," adequately describes the career of crime of three young men, Walter Frank Goodall (29), William Henry Colcord (19), and his brother John Charles Colcord (30). Although their "burst" was certainly short, it was extensive, for the trio this morning pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the following shops, and stealing goods worth £35 8/4: —Routley's, at Glen Eden, Western's at Avondale, Elcoat's at Henderson, Little's at Avondale, Mrs. Staple's at Henderson, Moss' at Avondale, and Mrs. Henderson's at Mount Roskill. The three men Mere further charged with breaking open a post >ffice letter box at Henderson, and further, with unlawfully converting three motor cars, valued at £215, £150, and £60, to their own use. Goodall, alone, was also charged with obtaining credit amounting to 10/ by fraud, forgery of a cheque, false pretences, theft of a pair of shoes worth £1 5/, and unlawful conversion of two motor cars.

Mr. C. O. Mahoney, who appeared for Goodall, said that accused pleaded guilty to all charges. Counsel said that Goodall had embarked on a "short, sharp burst" with the Colcord brothers. Mr. Mahoney, who asked that sentence on the summary charges should be deferred until he was dealt with by the Supreme Court on the major charges, wished it to be known that Goodall voluntarily handed himself over to the police. "Goodall got hold of an old cheque, nearly 100 years old," said Mr. Hammond, the Chief Detective, "and after forging a signature, cashed it. The cheque bears the name "Wyalong, New South Wales," and is dated "1800 and something," so the storekeeper who cashed it must have been stupid. Apart from being charged with the other two men with taking three cars, Goodall took two on his own."

Dealing with the other charges aaginst Goodall and. the Colcord brothers, Mr. Hammond said that three cars were taken from garages and used by the trio when they went on their expeditions of breaking and entering shops. At Henderson they broko open a letter oox, and, although they said that they stole no letters, it was a serious ollence to tamper with mail boxes. After evidence had been given by the various shopkeepers. Detective Sneddon and Detective McWhirter gave evidence as to arresting the three men. Detective Sneddon said that some of the stolen goods were found by him buried in the garden near Colcord's house. About fifty yards away from the house the balance of the stolen cigarettes and tobacco was found bitried under the earth. Iri a handbag which had been found were a number of motor car tools which had been used to break into the shops. Property that had been stolen amounting to £22 had been recovered, while £13 worth was not vet recovered.

Each of the accused pleaded guilty to all the charges and were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr. \V. E. McKean, S.M., agreed to withhold sentence on the summary charges until the trio had been sentenced at the Supreme Court,.