BAIL INCREASED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 37, 12 February 1926, Page 10

BAIL INCREASED

SUSPECTS BEFORE AUCKLAND

COURT

TAUPO BURGLARIES. INVOLVE!).

(By Telegraph.—-Prera Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day.

A substantial increase in the.amount of bail allowed by Justices at Rotorua to three men who were arrested on Tuesday , for theft of beniine at The Terrace Hofel, Taupo, was made last evening, when accused appeared before Mr. F. X.' Hunt, S M ., at the Auckland Police Court. The men, Thomas Smith, Reginald Phillips, and James. Moyne, had been remanded to Auckland, as other serious charges were pending, bail of £50 being granted in each case, bnt as the accused were unable to find sureties they were brought to Auckland by the liotorua express, and subsequently appeared at the Police Court. They were charged with the theft of benzine, and again remanded. Mr.' "Ward, who appealed for them, asked for bail, but this, was opposed by Chief -Detective Cummings, who said that two of the men at least were known to have come from Australia recently. The men had gone to Taupo from Hawkes Bay, via Eotorua, by motor, Phillips alleging that the> motor in which they had travelled was his 'property.'.: A theft .had been' committed while the men were there, and one .of -the articles believed to have been stolen had been traced to their possession. They.were at Taupo on the night when large sums of money had been stolen from bedrooms in the hotel, and they were found in possession of a sum in the vicinity of £50, for which they could not satisfactorily account. Among the money stolen was an English banknote, and one'of the accused had ,a note of this description in his possession, while, one of tie men had money concealed in the toe of his boot. Moyne admitted that he had been convicted in Australia, ■ while Smith admitted that he had an Australian record. .

1 When bail was asked for, the Magistrate said that in the circumstances he thought the bail formerly granted was insufficient, Phillips having been associated with the other two who were kiynvn to the police in Australia. He remarked that if a man stole £50 and given bail of a like amount, the country would' have no ■ hold on him. He fixed bail at £250 with a surety of £250 in each case. ,