TRIAL ON 82 CHARGES

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27962, 8 May 1956, Page 15

TRIAL ON 82 CHARGES

THEFT AND RECEIVING ALLEGED AUCKLAND CASE MAY TAKE THREE DAYS (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND. May 7. Eighty-two charges are made against Percy Wilford Browne, aged 33, a workman, who appeared before Mr Justice Shorland and a jury in the Supreme Court today. They allege theft, breaking and entering and theft, thefts from dwellings, and receiving goods knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. Browne pleaded not guilty to each charge. He conducted his own case, which is expected to last three days. Mr A. S. Cleal, for the Crown, said that the charges covered nearly six years. Property valued about £lOOO was recovered from the home of the accused at Arran street, Avondale. Evidence would be given, he said, that most of the thefts were from the Avondale area. Mr Cleal said that the accused, when detectives arrived at his home, took no interest in the search, and refused to say anything except that his conscience was clear. While the search was in progress he had a bath, and later dozed in a chair. Property was recovered from every room in the house, the ceilings, and outhouses. Today the floor of the main courtroom was covered with goods taken from the accused’s home. They included radios, coils of wire, zip fasteners, hardware, a radiogram, and a silver tea service. It was apparent, said Mr Cleal, that the accused had a mania for stealing and hoarding. The hearing will continue tomorrow.