BORSTAL ESCAPEES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 104, 26 January 1939, Page 5

BORSTAL ESCAPEES

Breaking And Entering Charges Admitted

WATCHED BY DETECTIVE FROM NEARBY HOUSE Two escapees from the Borstal institution. Invercargill, who entered a house in Dorking Road, Brooklyn, on the morning of Sunday. January 8, did not know they wore being watclied by a detective who lived across the street. They were botii arrested in the house mid charged in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, with breaking aud entering. Accused were Geoffrey Corbett, alias Stanley Leslie King, engineer and farmhand, aged 19, and Geoffrey Francis Evans Turner, alias John Edward Gilembe, farmhand, aged 18. Both pleaded guilty and were committed by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., to the Supreme Court, Chrislehureh. for sentence.

Corbett and Turner was charged jointly with breaking and entering by day the dwelling of Frank Johnson, 28 Dorking Road, and stealing a felt hat, a tie, n comb, and a pair of scissors, valued at 16/6. They were also charged with breaking and entering the countinghouse of Frank Johnson, and stealing a screwdriver and a pair of pliers, valued at 3/6. On a charge of breaking and entering the shop of Sylvia Clothier, 584 Colombo Street, Christchurch, on or about January 5, and committing theft, the accused were remanded to Christchurch.

Acting-Detective T. Chalmers said in evidence that he resided in Brooklyn opposite the divelling of Frank Johnson, but on a higher elevation. At about 11.55 a.m. on January 8. he saw the two accused enter the gate of the house opposite, but did not see them leave the premises. Witness was aware that the Johnsons were away on holiday and went down to investigate. There was no sign of accused, but a side window had been forced open. The detective then saw Corbett in the house. On entering the building witness found both accused in a bedroom which showed signs of having been hastily ransacked. Turner was searched, and in his possession were the screwdriver and a pair of pliers, produced in Court and identified

ns stolen property. Turner was wearing the felt hat stolen in the house, and rhe other property was also recovered. One penny and three halfpennies were taken from a missionary money-box. When interviewed about the screwdriver and pliers, accused admitted breaking into Johnson's workshop, where Turner had worked some time ago.

“Accused escaped from the Borstal institution, Invercargill.” said DetectiveSergeant W. McLennan, who conducted the prosecution.