YESTERDAY’S POLICE COURT

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 2

YESTERDAY’S POLICE COURT

BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGES. In tire Police Court yesterday the hearing of the charges of breaking and entering and theft against George Edward Ferguson and Henry Frederick Hornby was concluded. Annie Peddie, wife of tho caretaker of the Macandrcw Road School, stated that she left the school at about 10 o’clock on July 19, which was a Saturday. Everything thou appeared to be in the usual order. Some of the windows had no catches. On returning to the school at 3 o’clock on the Sunday she found that the school had been entered.

John Cameron, hairdresser and tobacconist, in business in King Edward street, said that he left his shop on the evening of July 22; returned to it on the following morning about 8 o’clock. There were evidences of a determined attempt to open the shop door with a jemmy. Alexander Fraser, caretaker of the King' Edward Theatre, said that ho locked up as usual on July 22. On going to the theatre next morning he found that the place had been entered and the ticket box tampered with. There was never any money left in the box. Martha Herd, whose confectionery shop is next tho theatre, said she found the police in charge on going to her shop on the morning of July 23. Over 5s that had been in the till and two boxes of chocolates (valued at £1 18s) were missing. The door leading from her shop to tho theatre had been forced, and the main door of her shop had been farced. Percy Charles Nicol, a. collarmaker. stated ihat. when he left the factory of Benjamin Hatfield on July 30 both doors wore locked. Wlftn he, returned next morning he found one door open and the other partly open.

Angus M'Leod, manager of Millin’s West Australia Hardware Company in Dunedin, said that he left his office after 5 o’clock on July 30. On returning next morning lie found that the door bad been broken open ; three coppers, two or three cigars, and some stamps were missing. James M'Doggart, secretary of the Otago Co-operative Milk Supply, Ltd., stated that he left his office in King Edward street about 5 o’clock on July 30. On returning next day he found that the panels of the back door bad been forced out, and in the inner office a roller-top desk had been forced open. The place was littered with matches, and there was a bottle containing a little whisky on a desk that h?d been prized open. Cigarettes, lead pencils, tobacco, £2 10s, and stamps to the value of £1 (a total value of £7 10s) were missing. !l Lilab Jones,'caretaker of the Caversham School, said that she locked all the doors of tile school on July 31. Next day she found some of the doors open and three cupboards wore open. Detective Hart gave evidence that be had interviewed the accused Hornby on the night of July 30. Hornby admitted the offences in a statement, which witness read.

Sergeant Murray produced Die ]cmmy found on Ferguson. Detective Farqnliarson i I it by Ferguson, admitting Ins ©lienees. When Hornby’s and Fennison's Monies were searched tho articles produced were found.

Accused, each of whom was already on probation, pleaded guilty to tho charges, and were committed for sentence.

Albert Thomas Bell, who Mad asked lor time in which to get a sol i , j 1 in the afternoon, when Mr Aspmall represented him. Mr Aspinall applied lor a remand to Friday in order to civo Jnm time to go into the case. Tho remand was granted. The charge against Bell was the aliened theft of two pairs of ladies hoots and a panama, hat valued at £l, the property of the St. John Ambulance Association,