MANY THEFTS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18051, 17 April 1924, Page 5

MANY THEFTS.

BURGLARIES IN THE CITY; HART AND HARTLEY -W COURT^; The Magistrate's Court was crowded yesv terday with witnesses and. interested spectators in the case in which Samuel John Hartley (Mr Dacre) and John Edward Hart iMr F. D. Sargent) were charged,. before.. Mr Wyvern , Wiison, S.JVI., with •,breaking,entering'and 'theft, v "-"■. Joiin. Ldward Haft "was, .charged .with breaming* and entering tne dwelling or Jodtpii luiy and slewing ' b oott3' 10 luc value oi ira 7s ud; ' . ' '■:,'. ~ ' ', dosepii A.ay, Spreydon, said that on March 31st, ±mZ, ' "J i«v h id house uiioecup.ea, and when lie. returned he lounu tha„ it nau been enverea. *A gola watch, a a.iver watch, a military brusu, an eoony Luu-u, an electric iron, ana several <uraci&» .orocitery were missing, ; the vu-iue oi wnieu was"£^o. selective J. rJ.crte.id.jte said he interviewed me accused on. April 2nd. wuh reierehce 40 uie charge, and ne'.haa... admitted mat lie Had oroiteu and onterea the .'house una stolen the article*. Later, in the company., •or'another detective, witness recovered tne articles at the accused b house.-\ Accused pleaded guilty ana was corhm.tted to tlie /bupreme Court tor sentence. _• bamuel John' Hartley' was charged with receiving goods to the value oi £io i9s ud, the property ol Claude JonH Mortimer, knowing the same to have been dis"lionestl> obtained. He was also charged that ho aid steal a copper cylinder, the va.ue ol £4, and that ho did steal a wringej: valued •at £2 ss. •"■ ' ' The wringer was; identified, . uy Harry HoDbs. i'ltn'oerald avenue, and another witness sai dthat the. cylinder exhibited .was. similar to the one stolen from his premises. Claude John Mortimer,' storekeeper, 'i'uam street, .said that on March oOth he locked up nis shop at 12.13 ajm. He returned at 12.50 a.m., and everything, was all right. "W hen he returned laier m the morning, goods to the value of £ls 9j 9d were "'uhSles William Wilder; employed by the Christchurch Gas, Ccal Company, Lid., said that Hartley, who had ..been aiso eniployea by the sanie company, asked wuness tf he would buy some Capstan cigarettes at 6d per packet, and he purchased 40 pjasetb at sid. Accused told h.m that he was. selling them on behalf of a friend who wrs eoine out of business. '. Constable A. Williams said, that he visited the C'hristchurch Gas Company s works, and., upon examining Hartleyrs locker, discovered a quantity of ten, and _ "gareUes. Detective J. Le. Sueur said he recovered the' goods from Hartley's house in Hacecours! road. Kew frighten. Accus,rim ade a statement .in which he sa-.d that he re ceived a parcel from a man whom a e - d >f not know! and he had taken it to Hart. H P used to go around new and- partiy-iur Sfhed hotuse! with Hart and steal goods including carpets rugs tools l« os . cn ° crockery. Hart had threatened -to break 'STSidk if he told anybody anything about lU lccused r ploaded guilty to all'"the charges and was committed to the Supreme Court fo Tho el a^c n used were jointly charged that they did steal, between July 23rd and July 29th, 1923, at Dallington, one hall carpet one bedroom- carpet and five valued at £36 ss, the property of Herbert YV. W On° n or about December 18th, at Marshhand road, one brush, scythe two c&if ls > wire strainers, pair of pinchers, keyhole saw. cross-cut saw, oil can, ruler, pair ot trousers, steel tape measure, a-quantity oa steel nails and* oil ' of a total value of -£9 16s 9d, the property of C. "W. Han-is; On or about July 6th, 1923, at "Richmond, six yards of linoleum, two wool mats, one kapoc mattress, hair broom, bass .broom, kettle, two" enamel pots, wringer bucket hos, paintbrush, and two taps, of a total

value of £12'103, the property of Walter J. Conibear; . ' • On or about September sth, 1923, "at Richmond, one carpet, eiderdown rug, white counterpane, three "curtains, a. brace and bits, set square, nine jars of jam, one doormat, and a quantity of kitchen utensils, of a- total value, of £29' as, i the properly ,ol Xiesiie Foster/;, •:, .; ~'.. . . ~,:'' ..-.. :'k On™or,' 'about:, March" 17th'; 'f1923, ; two. car--pets, one Indian rug, bedroom rug, three slip mats, valued at £3B 2s 6d, the. property of .E... J. Fisher; Between September 2nd .and' September 4th, 1928," at- Kiehmond,' a kit of carpenter's tools, six mortise locks,- 12"black casement stays, and ; one box of. hinges, value at £l2, the property of J. V. "Veitch; " ', On or about September 24th, 1923, break and enter, by night,, the home of Wm Fowler, 648 Worcester street, , Linwood, and steal" Axminster carpet, hall runner, ,wbol 'mat-;'blue stripl.hmts; seagrass mat, Kaiapoi rug,'pair of''sheets, seven pillow slips, 12 tea towels, three linen tablecloths, one jug, six.plates, one clock, two brooches, electric iron and fittings,, valued at £32; and, ',. On December. 7{h, 1923, at, Linwood, break and enter by night, the' shop of John Themaa Whitford, 63 Stanmore road,... and Bteal one alarm, clock, seven' pairs- of ladies' boots, six pairs of inen'fl boots, four, pairs of boys' boots, one pair, of girls'. sandals, and a quantity of boot'. polish and laces,: of a total value of £23 t's. ' .; Evidence of identification of the various stolen articles : was given by several witnesses, some of whom stated that new house's and houses in course of construction but part furnished had been almost.stripped of all their furnishings."..-.',.:'. ■''■'■ . Gordon James. Hartley, Fitzgerald, avenue, said accused Hartley was his stepson.'' '..He had purchased some. carpets from uoth accused, as well as some oils, all-of. whicl. had ' been , taken from his home by the police. Witness had no suspicions as to hoy/ his stepson came by the carpets, her. cause he wa3 always in steady, employment. '- Detective Bickerdike said that, in com-, pany with another detective, he interviewed Hart at his home on April 2nd. Accused admitted having committed the offences, and made a statement' in which he stated-that. Hartley': had, suggested, to .him'j to Osteal articles of f&rniture from new houses, and he Had accompanied •'Hartley on some, occasions. Witness had searched Hartley's house -.nd found- stolen • property; From' the "time witness interviewed Hart he had found; hia to be truthful and willing to help the. police to find . the rightful owners. Detective Le Sueur he had recovered some stolen boots and polish at Hartley's house, as well as other articles. :fle also found stolen goods at Hart's place. Both the accused pleaded guilty, and were committed .--to' the Supreme Court for sentence.. ■ Ori a" further charge of the theft of tools, of a total value of. £5 17s 6d, the property of Caleb Gibbard, b6th, accused were remanded, to appear on April 24th.