WOMAN ON TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 252, 24 October 1934, Page 8

WOMAN ON TRIAL.

JEWELLER'S BURGLED. CHARGE OF RECEIVING. NELSON STREET POLICE RAID. A sequel to the theft of jewellery from the premises of James Pascoe, Kaiangaliape Road, on the night of Soptembei 20, took place at the Supreme Court to-day when Hilda Jackson was chaiged with receiving articles valued at £1-378, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained.. The trial was heard before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury. Mr. V. R. Meredith appeared for''the Crown and Mr. J. J. Sullivan for the accused. Mr. Meredith, in outlining the case, said that on the night of September 20 a really big burglary job was done, property valued at between £1300 and £1400 being stolen from Pascoe's. Describing how the stolen articles were traced to a house in Nelson Street, Mr. Meredith said that a week afterwards a secondhand dealer was rung up by a female voice and asked to call, the person at the other end of the 'phone saying that she had some jewellery to sell. The dealer went to the house and arranged to come back again in the evening. When he did so he was admitted by the accused, taken into a room and the door locked. The accused produced' a lot of jewellery from a pillow case and displayed some more on a newspaper on the floor, and asked £200 for it. About this time there was a knock on the door, and Jackson, after going out of the room to answer it, returned with the explanation that it was a couple of drunks. Immediately afterwards the bedroom door was burst in and the room filled with police. The police found the articles that were spread out, and also more in the bed clothes. When asked for an explanation how she came by it, accused replied, "You have got the lot. That is all you will get from me." Later accused, continued counsel, stated that two men had brought the jewellery there, but she did not know their names. Later she said that she knew them, but would not tell their names. The police matron was sent for, and when sho searched accused found some jewellery in the toe of her shoe. A further search revealed more jewellery in the walls of the room. When told at the police station that two men had been arrested, and one let go, accused remarked: "You have kept the wrong one." This remark, said counsel, indicated that the accused knew who stole the articles. "When a person is found in possession of stolen property," Mr. Meredith added, "it calls for an explanation whether it was come by honestly. There was no such explanation by the accused, who, according to her statements, was just a tool for a gang." Evidence was given by Albert Pascoe, who identified the jewellery. The unrecovered amount, he said, was valued at £160 12/0. The "dealer, when cross-examined by Mr. Sullivan, denied that accused opened the door for the police. It was burst open. Mr. Sullivan: When did you dive under the bed, before the police got in or after ?—After. His Honor: What did you dive under the bed for? —Just to get out of the road. Mr. Sullivan: You knew what was coming?—l had an idea. (Proceeding.)