THE RECENT BURGLARIES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12484, 21 April 1906, Page 2

THE RECENT BURGLARIES.

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTS'. *

Yesterday, before Mr V. G. DayV. S.M., Owen Patrick Bro__b_t wa. charged with breaking and entering nine dwellings, and stealing tnerefrom articles to the value of £125. Mabel C_t>line*Ck>les ertafced that she resided at 38 W_w__ road. Shortly before two o'clock on Wednesday, April 4__, she went out, leaving the door of her house locked, and the place -secure. On returning at 4 o'clock ehe found the back door had been unlocked. Wilfred Coles stated that the cashbox produced was his property. He left it in his bedroom on April 4th, when it contained two Bank of Australia notes, one sovereign, and sundry receipts. After tea he' Went into his bedroom, and noticed the box was missing. John Horsley, who resided at Fisher street. Sydenham, stated that on the 4th of th is month he left his house about 12.40 p.m., and returned about 5 p.m., when he found the place had been turned generally upside down. Enta-ance had been effected through lifting the bathroom window. On looking round he missed a* brief bag, which contained a number of periodicals and a greenstone brooch, which were produced. George Horsley, son of the last witness, said that one emerald, one imitation ruby, several opals, and a gold chain, produced, were his property. He valued them at about £4. The articles were stolen from h_ bedroom on the 4th of this month. Alexander Stark, residing nt Wairarapa terrace, Fendalton, _id he went to Oxford on the 2nd of this month, leaving Thomas Forrest in charge of his place. He rotui-ned home two days afterwards, and found that one gold medal brooch, one gold horseshoe brooch, one gold bar brooch, two gold pins, one gold knife, one gold medal, chain, and seal, one silver chain, one 5s piece, and one cameo bracelet had been stolen. Thomas Forrest stated that he left the house of the last witness on Monday, and returned on Tuesday at 5 o'clock. He found the front door and one of the back doors open. The drawers wore all open, and had been ransacked. He had lost a silver watch, a gold chain, a gold medal attached to the chain, and a small pocket com*-«_ss. which he valued at £6 os. Sarah Eastwood stated that she resided in Poulson street, Addington. She had occasion to leave home on March 24th, and left tho houee locked with the exception of a small window in the lumber room. She had 5s worth of thr_penny-pieces, a watch valued afc £5, a purse containing £1 4s Gd, and a pair of sleeve Units. The total value of the goods waa £7 19s 6d. Tho watch and the sleeve links produced were her property. Mary Lot- said that she left her house, at Wilson's road, Opawa, on April 4th. The doors were all locked, but two windows were left open. When she returned the bathroom window was wide opem, and the contents of the hone* were scattered about. She missed one watch, a gold slide, 14s in money, and a cheque for £1 14s. Fanny Miilioant Garrard, residing at Carlton Place, stated that on 19fch March, at 2.15 .p.m., she left home, leaving the doori locked and the place secure with the exception of the diningroom window, wbicli was always left i open. Admittance been gained through that window. On returning she missed a diamond and sapphire broodn, Jubilee sovereign brooch, and a gold band ring. She valued the articles at £30. Alice Fisher said that she left her house at Lower Riccarton on March 25th, at 2 p.m., and on her return found the contents of the house all scattered about. She missed a gold watch, a gold ring, one gold locket, a cameo pin, a gold horseshoe brooch set with pearls, and a gold pin *.v_n a greenstone heart attached to it. Mary Jane Mabley, living in 162 Gloucester street, stated that she left her house on the 30th of March last, leaving tho doors and windows locked, with the exception of the bathrooM window, whfch was left slightly open. She noticed a young man passing as she was going out. The accused was like t3ie young man. She dad not go many yards before she returned to get a bicycle pump, and entered by the back door. She found a pair of boots just inside, and she handed them over to the police. She saw the owner of the boots in the garden a few minutes afterwards, but he ran away. She ran after him, but could not catch him. When she Went in the door she heard a slight noise, and called out, but there waa no answer. William Mabley stated that he saw the accused in his garden on March I 30th. Witness naturally asked him what he wanted, thinking it was a man on business, but abuc** __ne__tefly his wife appeared with the boots in her hand, and accused then made off. Oapel Cartnor. shopman in Maine Bros.', said that he sold the accused the pair of boots produced. Lilith Jdlmiston. who lived at Richmond, stated that she left her house on I March 20th last. Tho kitchen j window was open at the top. On returning shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon, she Found a bag of walnuts tipped out on -he floor. This was the first indication

she had that anyone had been in the house. A oaahbox had been taken from the house. . Newton Johnston stated that he missed a ooshbox From his house on iMarch 20th last, containing jewellery to the value of _17. Detective Ward stated that he and Detective Bishop arrested the accused on April sth, on a charge of entering Mrs Mabley's dwelling. He said he would not deny that charge. On the " 12th he had a conversation with Che accused. Accused then directed him toa ' 1 shed near the Prince of Wales Hotel, where he said he had planted a lot of jewellery. On searching among some j=acks of sawduat there they found all the articles produced in Court that morning in a brief bag, produced. One gold chain was missing, belonging to Newton Johnston. The accused told him that morning that ho would assist witness in recovering that as soon as possible. Hie accused pleaded guil'y to all charges, and was committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence.