CHARGES AGAINST SEAMEN

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26517, 4 September 1951, Page 4

CHARGES AGAINST SEAMEN

CAR CONVERSION AND THEFT COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE In the Magistrtte*» Court yesterday before Mr Raymond Ferner, S.M., Bert Martin, aged 21, and Ronald Henry Coulter, aged 18, each described as a seaman and labourer, pleaded guilty jointly to two charges of unlawfully converting motor-ears to their own use; two charges of theft; and five charges of breaking, entering and theft. Thfly were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on all charges. The charges were that, on August 7, they unlawfully converted to their own use a motor-car, valued at £lOOO, the property of Lane, Walker, Rudkin, Ltd.; that on August 8 they unlawfully converted to their own use a motor-car, valued at £BOO, the property of Edwin Joseph Feron; that on August 7 they stole a suitcase containing samples, valued at £79, the Eroperty of Lane, Walker, Rudkin, td.; that on August 6 they broke and entered the shop of Joseph Michael Carey, at 403 Papanui road, and committed theft; that on August 6 they stole two watches, valued at £l2, the property of Edwin Joseph Feron; that on July 31 they broke and entered the shop of James Knight, at 172 High street, and committed theft; that on August 2 they broke and entered the shop of the Newmarket Cake Kitchen, at 642 Colombo street, and committed theft; that on July 31 they broke and entered the warehouse of the Model Manufacturing Company, at 170 High street, and committed theft; and that on August 2 they broke and entered the shop of C. J. Williamson, Ltd., at 626 Colombo street, and committed theft.

Stanley Alfred Bell, a traveller for Lane. Walker, Rudkin, Ltd., said that on August 7 he parked his car, which was valued at £lOOO, in Oxford terrace at 8 p.m. He locked the car and took the ignition keys, but he later learned that there was another set in the glove compartment. When he went back for the car about 40 minutes later it was gone and he informed the police. Some time later he was told by . the police that the car had been found. He examined the car, and found that it had been tampered with, and also that a suitcase containing samples of material, valued at £79, had been stolen.

Joseph Michael Carey, a mercer at 413 Papanui road said that on August 6 he left his premises at 5.30 pm. locking all doors and windows. The following day he found that the shop had been ransacked. About £ll7 worth of clothing had been taken, and also about £4 or £5 in money. On August 8 he called at the Detective Office and examined some clothing. It was similar to his. The clothing recovered was valued at £72. On August 19, he again called at the office to examine clothing, worth £45, similar to that taken from his shop. Witness said he had seen the accused three or four days before the theft, walking past his shop. Accused Martin denied this. He said he had never been in Papanui before.

Car Missing and Recovered Edwin Joseph Feron, a tobacconist, of Bl Manchester street, said he was the owner of a car which was valued at £B5O. On August 6 he parked his car at 6.45 p.m. in Oxford terrace behind the Radiant Theatre. He thought he locked the doors, but he knew he took the ignition keys. When he returned at 10.45 pan. the car was missing, and he reported it to the police. On August 8 he was advised that a car had been found abandoned in an empty section at the corner of Purchas ana Barbadoag streets. The mudguard was damaged, and the electrical wiring under the dashboard was also damaged. A watch and a stop watch valued at £l2 were missing from a pocket. On August 19 he was shown two watches by the police, and these were similar to his. Gladys Payne, manager of the Newmarket Cake Kitchen in Cashel street, said that when she left the shop at 5.30 pjn. on August 2, all doors and windows were locked. At 8.30 a.m. the next day she found that the shop had been entered. Cakes were gone, and about £5 in cash had been stolen from a drawer under the counter. Entrance had been gained through a back door. Francis Denis Cantwell, managingdirector of the Model Manufacturing Company, Ltd., High street, said he left the warehouse at 8.45 p.m. on August 3. ' The doors were secure. The next morning he was told that the place had been broken into, and it was found that entrance had been gained through a window at the rear. After an examination he thought that nothing was missing, but on August 9 it was reported that some cloth was missing. The cloth produced in Court was similar to that owned by witness. Frank Williamson, proprietor of C. J. Williamson, Ltd., pram-makers of Colombo street, said he left the shop at 5.55 p.m. on August 2 after locking doors and windows. The day after it was found that the place had been entered, and entrance had possibly been gained through a window left insecure. The office had been ransacked. The safe had been dragged from the office to the workshop, and the back cut off. Cheques totalling £B4 10s, and £47 2s 7d in bank notes and silver had been stolen. As far as he knew bone of the cheques had been cashed. To repair the safe would cost about £5, and repairs to other things would cost another £l. William Stanley Hughes, manager of Knight’s Butchery, High street, said he left the shop at 5.30 pm. on July 31 making sure that all doors and windows were securely locked. It was reported to him the next day that the shop had been entered, and that the drawers in the office had been ransacked. One pair of nylon stockings had been stolen. As far as he could judge the thieves had got in by a window at the back. The stockings produced were similar to those that were In the shop. Detective’s Evidence

Detective Cyril Patrick Bums said he was in a police car with Detective Stevens and Constable Jackway.' looking for a car which had been re ported stolen. At 10.50 p.m. a ca was seen being driven along Ferr road. It was followed to FitzgeraL avenue, to Moorhouse qvenue, an then to the Railway Station where 1 i was pulled to the side of the roac The two accused got out of -the car and ran along Moorhouse avenue They were chased and Coulter was caught, .but Martin disappeared across the railway lines. Coulter was interviewed by Detective Burns, and he admitted converting the car. Witness said he later went to accused Coulter’s rooms at 296 Hereford street, and he found there personal clothes, and a large quantity of men’s clothing of which he took possession. Coulter also made statements on the other charges. Corroborative evidence was given by Detective Eric Albert Stevens. ; Acting-Detective \ Paul Richard Hood, of Wellington, said he located accused Martin at Wellington on August 14. Martin made a statement admitting converting the car. That day witness searched accused’s home in Molesworth street, and found a quantity of new clothing. Martin in a statement admitted stealing the goods.