BURGLARY AT GISBORNE

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 11, 13 July 1914, Page 8

BURGLARY AT GISBORNE

THEFT OF JEWELLERY CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN. (IV TBLEQRAPp—PRESS ABSOdAIION.) GISBORNE, This Day. John Robert Marsh and William Johnston were charged to-day with having committed burglary at the shop of H. J. Grieve, jeweller," on 12th June. Th© case against Marsh was heard first. Accused pleaded not guilty to theft, but guilty of receiving a watch which was found in his possession. Grieve, in his evidence, stated that the jewellery taken was valued at between £1600 and £1700. Detective M'Leod said accused Marsh admitted he had a watch, one of the proceeds of the burglary, given him by a man to keep his mouth shut. , Marsh was committed for trial on the charge of theft and committed for sentence for receiving. Bail in £500 and two sureties of £500 each was fixed.' The case against Johnston was then taken. Marsh, in a signed statement, said that on the Saturday evening after the robbery he met the accused Johnston, who took him to an unoccupied house and pulled a bag out from under the house. It was filled witL. jewellery. Witness put his hand in the bag and took out a watch. Johnston took some jewellery also, and then replaced the bag under tho house. Johnston said the man who robbed Grieves shop had arranged 'to plunder another store that night, and he (Marsh) and Johnston waited to assist him, but the man failed to turn up. Marsh said he had no idea who he was; that was all he knew of the robbery. , The accused man Johnston, when arrested at Tolaga Bay,' made a statement that the day following the burglary he met a man who told him that he had broken into Grieves, and showed him a swag planted - under an empty house. He (Johnston) agreed ■to assist him to shift the stuff, and subsequently visited the' place with Marsh. The latter took a watch, and he (Johnston) various articles, valued at £30. Marsh's state- • menf that he had arranged with a man to break into another shop was untrpe. He (Johnston) took -no part in the robbery ; that was all he knew about it. Johnston pleaded guilty of receiving, but not guilty of burglary. He was committed for sentence and trial, bail as fixed-for Marsh being allowed.