"DID THE JOBS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 252, 25 October 1933, Page 10

"DID THE JOBS."

STORES BROKEN INTO. STATEMENT BY PRISONER. CHARGE AGAINST MAORI. A confession that he and not the person accused had broken into the stores of the Farmers' Trading Co. at Papakura and Pokeno was made by a prisoner, Leslie Clifton Arthur Payne, who was called as a witness in a case before Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court this morning. Payne also admitted breaking into other places, which offences had not been the subject of charges. The accused 011 trial was a Maori, Charles Murphy, and the charges against him numbered 10. There were two charges of breaking: and entering the stores of the Farmers' Trading Co. at Papakura and Pokeno \vitli intent to commit a crime. There were charges of breaking and entering and theft, also theft and receiving. A couple of suiteases containing various articles were •produced in Court as exhibits. Mr. Hubble prosecuted for the Crown and Mr. Slcelton appeared for the accused. Store Entered. Samuel Evans, manager of the Farmers' Trading Company's shop at Papakura, gave evidence that the shop had been broken into between 10.30 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, and 7 p.m. 011 Apfil 15. Articles taken included pyjamas, eocks, ties, ladies' hose, tobacco, cigarettes, braces, garters, towels and three. suitcases, of a total value of about £00. The goods (produced) were similar to those stolen. Mary Margaret Muir, in charge of the drapery department, said the pyjamas and towels produced were similar to those missing from her stock. Charles Geo. Wise, licensed pawnbroker and second-hand dealer, Hobson Street, said he had known the accused by the name of James Bentley. The suitcase and contents produced were pledged with witness by a woman he knew as Mrs. Bentley oil May 2. Witness understood the accused and the woman were man and wife. Room Searched. j Detective Herbert Knight said that j subsequent to obtaining the suitcase and certain articles from the pawnshop of Mr. Wise he interviewed the accused, who made a signed statement. On June 14 witness and Constable Davis searched a room at a house in Dominion lload which had been occupied by a woman, Marie Paxall, who had been known as Mrs. Bentley. In the room were found a suitcase and a quantity of silk hose, ties, pyjamas, braces and garters of simitar "pattern to v those stolen, from the shops of the Farmers' Trading Company at Papakura and Pokeno. The accused said that he got the goods from another man, but declined to say from whom, as he did not want to give the man away. Questioned by Mr. Skelton, witness said he had seen a man named Payne, who said he had done the "jobs," but any details that were able to be cheeked were found to be incorrect. Payne was an habitual criminal and prepared to take the blame for anything lie heard of. Sydney James Woodcock, manager of 1 the Farmers' Trading Company's store at Pokeno, gave evidence that the store was broken into on the night of April 26, and numerous articles stolen. They were similar to those produced. Leslie Clifton Arthur Payne, prisoner at Mount Eden gaol, said he had a long list of convictions for burglary, theft, etc. He was released from prison in November last and 011 April 14, about 9.30 p.m., he broke into the store of the Farmers' Trading Company at Papakura and stole three suitcases and various other articles. The goods were brought to Auckland, two cases being left at the railway station and one at the ferry. He gave fictitious names in case the police came "nosing" about. On April 20 he broke into the Fanners' Trading Company's store' and took- numerous articles, mostly tobacco and cigarettes. Witness played a lone hand. "Safest Place." Witness got a lift to Auckland in the car of a commercial traveller and hid the goods he had stolen ■by the bridge in Khyber Pass. Mr. Skelton: Near the prison? —Yes, it's the safest place. | Witness said ihat later he met the accused Murphy and told him he (witness) was peddling bankrupt stock. A couple of days later witness sold accused some of the goods for. £2 5/, which included 5/ advanced upon an overcoat. The goods ho stole and had not sold he "planted" in the bush at Horopito, and thev should be there now. Witness said that it was when he was transferred from Wellington prison to Auckland prison that he met Murphy in the yard. Murphy was angry and \ wanted to fight witness because the j latter lurrl assured him the goods he j bought were bankrupt stock and not ' stolen. Witness then wrote to the police, j Witness had told Detective Kniglit of several of his exploits. He said lie had ] broken into a relief depot at Waitara, 1 a house at National Park; also a house at Kaetihi. Mr. .Skelton: Where did you meet Murphy? —At Wellington; he had a barber's shop. He mentioned InVercargilL I knew Invercargill, as I had done two years in Borstal. (Proceeding.)