PLEA REVERSED

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1932, Page 9

PLEA REVERSED

BURGLARY CHARGES

■ .. Before the jury had been empanelled for the trial in the Supreme Court this afternoon of three men, charged with breaking, entering, and theft and receiving stolen property, one of them, Reginald Eloomfield, alias Thomas, reversed his previous plea of not guilty. Addressing Mr. Justice Eeed, Bloomfield said that under the circumstances he -wished to change . his plea of not guilty to one of guilty on all counts. "I wish to state, as I have in my statements, in fairness to the man Drummond that he has been an innocent victim 'of circumstances, and I hope your Honour will pardon me for saying bo," said Bloomfield. • The prisoner was remanded for sentence.

The two other accused, George James Frederick Ferguson and Arthur Cornelius Drummond, are facing trial on charges of breaking ana entering the Self-Help grocery store in Bintoul street and stealing goods to the value of abont £32 and with breaking and entering the warehouse of W. D. Dobson and Co., Ltd., in Taianaki street, and stealing bottles of liquor and cigarettes; valued at £76 lls 6d. There are also charges of receiving against them jn respect of the goods mentioned in the breaking1 and entering charges. It is' alleged that the offences were committed in June.

Evidence, along similar lines to that given when the aeeused -were before the Magistrate's Court, was proceeding at the time of going to press.