NEWTON THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 8

NEWTON THEFTS.

YOUTH'S ADMISSION, i • TWICE IN SAME SHOP. STOLEN GOODS FOUND. A seaman, Walter John Clues, aged 20, appeared before Mr. W. E. McKean, S.M., in tlie Police Court this morning, when he admitted four crimes and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The chargcs which Clues admitted were as follow:—January 18, breaking and entering the shop of Henry Herbert Wilson, 107, Karangahape lioad. and stealing clothing valued at £10; February 4, breaking and entering the same shop again and stealing clothing valued at £49 0/8; February 2, breaking and entering the dwelling of Lionel Austin Bensemann at Westmere and stealing an overcoat valued at £1; and on January 24, stealing a suit, overcoat and sleeve links of a total value of £11. Detective-Sergeant Mcllugh prosecuted and Mr. W. Noble appeared for accused. Shop Entered Twice. Henry Herbert Wilson, tailor and mercer, of 107, Karangahape Road, said that on arrival at his shop at 8.30 a.m. on January 19, he found the police in charge. Two panes of glass had been removed from a window at the rear of the premises, allowing the intruder to insert his hand and open the back door. Numerous articles of clothing were missing. On February 3 witness left

liis shop securely locked at 12.15 p.m., but on returning 011 tho Monday morning, February 5, he found it liad again been entered. Between the first theft and. the second witness had boarded up the back windows with heavy timber. However, a third pane of glass had been removed. The shop was in disorder, clothing worth £49 being missing. Witness identified several articles which he said had been stolen from his shop, including the trousers and socks which Clues was wearing in the dock.

Detective Nalder paid that with Detectives Whitehead, Gillum and Henry lie made inquiries about the series of thefts from shops in Newton. At 4.50 on February 7 he saw Clues in the street, dressed in clothing which was later identified as having heen stolen from Mr. Wilson's shop. All, with the exception of a shirt and pair of boots, was stolen property. Witness told Clues that the overcoat which he was wearin" had been stolen. Clues replied, "You will have to prove that." When told by witness that he had been lookinjr for him in connection with the recent burglaries in Newton, Clues said, "How do rou know it's me?" "I told him that he answered to the description of the man who had been disposing of some of the stolen clothins," said Detective Nalder. "Clues said. •Have you got any fingerprints?' I told him we had none, but we had got tome of the stolen goods. Clues then said, 'I know you have not got my fingerprints because I rubbed them off.'" " Find Out About the Others." When witness took accused to the detective office, Clues said, "I know my way about here. I suppose you want a statement." Clues was told that he could please himself about that. Clues then said, "I know when you have got the goods on me. I will admit Wilson's, hut you will have to find out about the others. It is your job to do that." Clues then made a statement and signed it. In the statement admitting the thefts from Wilson's shop, Clues said he had been in the navy for six years. He admitted changing his socks and suspenders in Wilson's shop when he broke in on the second occasion. Cut Hand in Breaking Window. Later, Clues took Detective Nalder and showed him where some of the stolen goods were. Detective Nalder later recovered further stolen goods from second-hand shops. On February 8 Clues made further statements admitting the two other offences. He stated that he went to Mr. Bensemann's house to make an inquiry, and, finding no one at home, he broke a pane of glass in a door and entered. In breaking the window he cut his hand badly and on that account he did not steal anything. He admitted he had entered for the purpose of stealing anything of value. He denied stealing the overcoat.

Detective Nalder added that he found two pawn tickets in Clues' possession. These showed that he had pawned a suit in one shop for 12/ and in another an overcoat for 10/.

Before being taken Lack to prison, some of the stolen clothing -was taken from Clues. He was allowed to keep the trousers, shirt and pair of socks which he waa wearing.