SEVEN BURGLARIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 133, 2 December 1936, Page 13

SEVEN BURGLARIES

A YOUTHFUL GANG

MAN BEFORE COURT

SIX CHARGES ADMITTED

Details of seven burglaries in the city and suburbs, involving money and goods of a total value approaching £35, were given in the Magistrate's Court today, when. David Leon Thomson, a signwriter, aged 22, appeared before Mr. Raymond Ferner, S.M. The accused was charged with four offences of breaking and entering shops at Karori, Cuba Street, and Willis Street, and with two offences of receiving stolen property. Detective-Sergeant L. B. Revell conducted the prosecution. Percy Edwards, manager of the New Zealand Slippers factory in Wakefleld Street, said that his company occupied the second and third floors of the building. At 8.30 a.m. on November 16 he found papers strewn over the floor, the safe opened, the petty cash box smashed, and £12 11s 5d missing. Entrance had been made by means of a fire escape through a window wi the rear of the building. Hubert Oldfield, senior member of the firm of Oldfield ana Sons, occupying the third • floor of a building in Wakefield Street, said that on the morning of November 6 he found papers misplaced and about £1 18s and a tin of biscuits missing. The missing property, including the cash box, was valued at over X.2. Allan Stedman Fraser, manager of Paykell Bros., Ltd., occupying the second floor of the same building as the previous witness's firm, said that, on the morning of November 6 he found papers out of order and 100 cigarettes and a lubroscope missing. The value of the property was about £2 10s. Andrew Hogg, manager of a grocery store at 242 Cuba Street, said that on November 14 he found the back door open and £8 2s 6d and tobacco and cigarettes to the value of £2 6s missing. The back door had been forced. Leonard George Clark, a grocer, in business at 356 Main Road, Karori, said that on November 14 he found the lock of the front door pulled out and the door wide open. Tobacco and cigarettes of a total value of £6 2s 8d were missing. They were of the same brands as those produced in court. Arthur Edmund Preston, of A. E. Preston and Company, Willis Street, said that when <he arrived at his shop on November 11 he found that the steel netting covering the backyard had been displaced, and that the office had been ransacked. A sum of 4s lid was missing. The accused had an office in the same building, and had been employed by the firm in window-writing. Victor John Tucker, manager of "The Dainties" tearpoms, 96 Willis Street, said that when he came on duty at about 2 a.m. on November 11 he found that the back door had been forced and was open. One palette knife was missing. YOUTHS GIVE EVIDENCE. A youth who had appeared previously in the Children's Court, and whose name was ordered to be suppressed, said that he had known the accused about nine months, and had visited his studio several times with other boys. About the middle of last month he was present there when something was said about breaking into Preston's shop. Witness suggested it, and entrance was made that night. The money was shared in the accused's studio, but witness was not sure whether the accused was there or not. Mention was also made of a cake shop, which witness later entered. For other burglaries, the accused's car had sometimes been used, and the 'accused had sometimes accompanied them. Another youth said he had known Thomson for about a year, and did signwriting at his studio. Witness was one of the two who broke into Preston's shop. The proceeds were shared out in the studio, and the accused participated; The accused remarked that they "should have done the cake shop at the same time." They later entered the cake shop, but got nothing. Detective S. C. Browne said that in company with Detective J. G. Long he had been making inquiries regarding the thefts. They arrested the accused on November 18. The following day they went with him to his home, and he showed them a suitcase containing articles, which he had hidden under the house. The accused denied breaking into the premises, and made an explanation, which he ; signed. He admitted lending his car at various times, and said that the lubroscope had been thrown over the sea-wall near the Miramar Wharf. He participated in the share-out after the New Zealand Slippers burglary. Information in the other matters was also given. • Detective Long gave corroborative evidence. The accused pleaded guilty to all charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. •

Under the heading "Motoring Offences" yesterday, a charge against Donald Murray Poison was stated as one of "negligent driving." It was actually a charge of failing to keep a motor vehicle as far as practicable to the left of the road.