TWO MEN ON TRIAL

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 3

TWO MEN ON TRIAL

Alleged Theft Of Liquor

The trial of two men who are charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of R. Powley and Company, Ltd., Broad street, early on the morning of October 19 last year and stealing a large quantity of liquor, opened before Mr Justice Macarthur and a jury in the Supreme Court yesterday. The two accused, who are jointly charged with the theft. are Eric Ronald Alphonsis Gilligan-Kingsley,, aged 21, a labourer, and Owen James Reese Bull, aged 37. a labourer. The trial irtis adjourned to today after three Crown witnesses had given evidence. Each accused has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The accused Gilli ganKingsley, is represented by Mr R. G. Blunt, and Mr P G. S. Penlington is appearing for Bull. Mr C M. Roper appears for the Crown. Crown Case Mr Roper, outlining die Crown evidence, said a woman who lived opposite the warehouse heard noises about 2 a.m. and from her window saw three men carrying bottles from the warehouse to a car parked near her front gate. They drove off shortly after, but 20 minutes later returned and backed the car into the warehouse entrance and continued loading bottles into the car.

While she was ringing the police, the woman heard the car drive off. After a police patrol had arrived the woman saw the car drive past the warehouse again. The police car followed this vehicle and stopped it. The car was driven by a Richard Hill and the two accused were passengers in the vehicle, said Mr Roper Liquor similar to that taken from the warehouse was found in the back seat When the two accused were questioned. Gilligan-Kingsley said he was being driven home to Waikuku after a party. He denied all knowledge of the theft of liquor. The accused Bull gave no answer when questioned, Mr Roper said.

The warehouse was found to have been entered through a skylight and a hole made in the ceiling. Attended Party

Mr Roper said that earlier in the evening the two accused went to a party at the home of a Mr and Mrs Wright, in Willow street During the evening beer and sherry were consumed and the owners of the house and others staying there retired to bed, leaving the two accused, and brothers, Billy and Richard Hill, in the kitchen. Mr Wright had earlier refused Gilligan-Kingsley’s request for a loan of his car but had agreed to one of the Hill brothers taking it. The car which was stopped near the warehouse was Mr Wright’s vehicle, Mr Roper said. He said Mrs Wright awoke next morning to find Billy Hill sleeping in the kitchen, and a number of bottles of liquor which had not been there when she went to bed the previous evening. Ronald Paul Dalzell, secretary of R Powley and Company. Ltd., said the liquor taken from the premises was valued at £2lO.

A bottle of advocaat produced as an exhibit was definitely taken from the premises as it had a hole in the base for a light for display purposes, and had only paintwork inside. Another bottle could be positively identified as Powley's, were the sole distributors and could trace all eight bottles sold in the last year. All other liquor produced as exhibits were of brands found to be missing from the premises, Dalzell said. V