WATCHMAN'S STORY

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 9

WATCHMAN'S STORY

WHANGAREI CHARGE. INTENT TO COMMIT CRIME. HOUSE-BREAKING TOOL ? (By Telegraph.—'Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Messrs. W. Reynolds and H. C. Hemphill, justices were occupied with a lengthy hearing in the Police Court to-day. Two charges were laid against George Richard Stuart, that on June 25 he attempted to break and enter the premises of Mr. Ken Kelly, Cameron Street, with intent to commit a crime, and that he had in his possession by night, without, lawful excuse, an instrument of house-breaking. Accused was represented by Mr. R. K. Trimmer. In outlining the facts of the case, Senior Sergeant Finch said Mr. Duncan, the nightwatchman, was having his midnight meal in the doorway of Kelly's shop, when he heard a noise at the back of the shop. He saw a, man trying to open the door with a piece of iron. He asked the man what he was doing there, and he said: "I am doing the job for someone else." John Duncan, nightwatchman, said Stuart told him he was manager for Campbell Motors in Whangarei and that his name was Stuart. Accused added, "If I give you a fiver will you let it drop and say no more about it?" Witness said he refused the bribe. Talk About Fire. Constable Davies told of a private italk with Stuart, who said, "You know Mrs. . I was going to set fire to her shop to enable her to get the insurance from it. She is unfinancial and cannot make a do of it. She had £100 insurance cover on the stock. I know her well and am sorry for her. To make it look like a burglary, I went round to the hack of Kelly's shop and put a few jemmy marks on the door so as to cast suspicion away from Mrs. 's shop, and so that it would not look like arson." Accused, witness went on, asked who was the boss at the station and said ho must get out of the fix no matter what it cost him. He asked witness if he could not fix it up. Witness said he could not. Senior Sergeant Finch: What was Stuart's condition when he was brought in?—He was sober. I could not smell liquor on him. Mr. Trimmer: Did Stuart have money on him?— Yes, he had £10 16/G and a cheque for an amount I have forgotten. Details of another private conversation with Stuart were given by Senior Sergeant Finc-h. Tho talk took place about 3.20 a.m. on June 25. Witness told how Stuart asked: "Can you get me out of this? I was not doing this job for myself. I was doing it for someone else. I can square Kelly, even if it costs me £1000. Witness said he told accused ho could do nothing, and accused repeated his request, saying he would tell witness all about the matter if he would get him out of it. Witness would not comply with his request. To Mr. Trimmer, iVitness said he had a statement that Mrs. 's stock was valued at.£lso. Accused Calls Evidence. This concluded the Crown's case, and counsel intimated that accused denied the charges, and that lie was going to give evidence and call evidence. Victor Cecil Bedford, general manager for Campbell Motors, Ltd., stationed at Auckland, gave evidence of good character.

The next witness was accused, who detailed his movements that evening. "We had a party." he said, "and during the evening a friend bet mc £5 that I could not get a hard knocker. I bet him I would." By that time they had arrived outside his office, and accused said he wandered • over behind the shop. He picked up two spring leaves! He gave the door at the back of Kelly's a jolt with one of the leaves, his object being to get another hard hat. Mr. Trimmer: Were you trying to get into Kelly's shop for the purpose of setting tlieblock on fire? —No, I was trying to get a hat. If I had got the hat I was going to see Kelly next morning. Cross-examined by Senior Sergeant Fincll, accused said the reason why he had told the police about the proposal to set fire to the shop instead of the story about the party was that he thought being caught for burglary was very serious and that if ho roused tho sympathy of the police they would let him S°- ~ T. Corroborative evidence was given before, the Court adjourned for lunch. Accused, who denied both charges, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed.