BUSY YOUNG CRACKSMEN

Evening Star, Issue 20263, 26 August 1929, Page 11

BUSY YOUNG CRACKSMEN

10Na LIST OF OFFENCES FOUR YOUTHS COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE BAG-SNATCHING INCLUDED IN CHARGES Tho' criminal careers of four youths, who, some to a greater extent than tho others, have been involved in a scries of burglaries about Dunedin, were- recently terminated as a result of successful 'investigations by the detective force. The quartet appeared in tbo Police Court- this morning before Mill. \V. Bundle, S.M., and, after admitting the charges, were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Three of them pleaded guilty also to bag snatching last year, and will ho dealt with after tho Supreme Court sittings. Two youths, charged with receiving stolen ,goodts will appear cm Friday before a special sitting of tho Children’s Court. Charles Walter Ramsay and James Ramsay were jointly charged with breaking and entering tho shop of 1.1. Finlliday and stealing goods valued at £ls; and with stealing a. lady’s handbag. purse, and tA’s in money, of the total value of £-, the property of Minnie Jelly.

Charles Waller Ramsay and John David Gaskie were .jointly charged with entering the*. premises of Lane’s, Ltd., ami stealing whisky and wine valued at £2 15s. Alone, Charles Walter Ramsay was charged with breaking and entering the premises of 11. llalliday and stealing a bottle of wine, valued at ss; with stealing 5s from the premises of Percival Church; with attempting to break and enter the premises of Wardrop's Fibrous Company, with intent to commit a crime; and with stealing a lady’s handbag and 34s in money, of a. total value of £2 10s. the property of Freda Tyson. Charles .' Walter Ramsay, James .Ramsay, and John David CJaskie were jointly charged with stealing a lady’s handbag and 21s in money, of a total value of £2 3s, tho property of Ethel M'Keuzic. , Charles Walter Ramsay and Oliver John Keenan were jointly charged tvith breaking and entering the warehouse of William M'.Lcllan and stealing money and stamps to tho value - of £2 13s 7d; with breaking and entering the warehouse of H. W. Parker with intent to commit a crime; with breaking and entering tho premises of M'Leod Brothers with intent to commit a, crime; with breaking and entering tho shop of John DUG rath anti Co. . anti, stealirng £l9 4s 4d ;* with breaking and entering the promises of Irvino and Stevenson with intent to commit_ a. crime; and with breaking and entering the shop of Ethel Peake and stealing confectionery to tho value of 12s. James Ramsay wa» charged with stealing a lady’s handbag containing £lO in money, sundry papers .ji ml bank books, of a total value oi ,£l-a, the property of Jane Dow. , Mr C. J. L. White appeared for the two Ramsays and C,aside, and Mr A. G. Hanlon, for Keenan. Before evidence was take.ip on the indictable charges pleas of.guilty were entered in connection with all charges of stealing handbags. At the suggestion of Cliiof-dotectirc Cameron all the charges were taken together. THE EVIDENCE.

Henry Halliday, manager of the City Dye Works, said that on April, 2G lie locked up the premises about 9.30 p.m. On the following morning a window was found to he open. A number of suits had been thrown on the, floor, but it was not until later that ho was able .to find out what had been taken. The 'value of the missing goods was about £23. He had to pay £l4 10s to customers as compensation, for their losses. Neither of the Ramsays had any right to bo on the premises that night. A watch and a fountain pen had also been taken, but witness was not sure whether the former article, was taken on tho first or second occasion. Charles Ramsay had previously been employed by witness for about twelve months. After tho second visit .tho shop was. in disorder, candle grease had been spilled, and an unsuccessful attempt made to drill tho safe. A bottle pf wine and one of whisky, were also missing. Mr Halliday stated that lie wished to _ say that Charles Ramsay had always given satisfaction while in his employ. He showed ability beyond his years, and witness had never had occasion to question his honesty. Percival Church, marine dealer, said that ho locked up Iris store on July 18. On the following morning ho found* that someone had forced his way into Ids store and that 5s was missing. Charles- Ramsay had no right to be on the premises. , Colin Archibald Wardrop, managing director of Warclrops, Ltd., stated that the door of their store had been chis-

died away and an unsuccessful attempt made to force it. _ Kthcl Peake, a partner in die Wentworth Tea Uooms,-said that" sweets’to the value oi ]2s were taken from the shop, which was broken: into. 6u. Ike niaiii; of July 25. Josiah Pearce Lane, managing dim:lor of Lane’s, said that on_ July 25 Ike promises were locked, but in 'the morning it was discovered, that they had been onto rod overnight and whisky and ’ wine stolen to the vauo of £2 15s. I William Stevenson,, managing direpj for of .Irvine and Stevenson, -Ltd., said •4 that on the morning of August, 8 he 1 discovered that the premises bad been 1 entered the previous night, some of the 1 office, drawers having keen forced open and stamps stolen. John M'Grath, salesman, said that on the evening of August 7 lie left his premises iu. Princes street locked up with Ll 9 4s id in the safe. Lie thought the safe, was locked, because it was bis custom to lock it. Next morning he discovered that the premises had been entered 'overnight, and * the -money, stolen. The' accused involved in the charge bad no right on the place, William Williams, foreman of works at M'Leod Bros., gave evidence to the effect that on the morning of _ August 16 it was found that a window in Cnmherland street bad been, forced open, but nothing from the office- was missing. .Horace W. Parker stated that bis promises had been opened ’some time during the night of. August Jo. but -o far as he could tell nothing was missing. , Louis Joseph Joel, a member ot (he firm of William M’Lellan, 'LI<L. gave evidence regarding " the .breaking and entei’ing of'the firm’s' officio in Mlßride street, "about ;C2 Us 7<l, in .money and stamps having been stolen. . , . Detective Lean sal dtllat on’ Tuesday. August 20, lie interviewed Keenan, James Ramsay, and Caskie. ail ol wb.om made voluntary statements (produced). Ch iei'-detective Cameron said that on August 20 lie was in the detective office when Charles Walter- Ramsay, made a statement to Detective .Jenvey admitting the charges mentioned in the present information. Ho was- particularly frank.

Mr White said that his three clients pleaded guilty. ; 11 is Worship stated that'll these had been delated cases he would in consideration of the acensods’ youthfulncss havo considered other ways of dealing with them. Three of them, were between .seventeen and eighteen, and Charles Ramsay was nineteen. However the sen'r" from April. The accused, would stand committed lor sentence in the Supreme Court, and bail in each case would be allowed on one charge in - the sums of £25. faccused’s own recognisance), and one Surety of £2-3. a condition being that they report daily to the child welfare officer, BAG-SNATCHING CHARGES. Chiof-doVcctivo Cameron . then outlined. the facts in regard to the snatching of ladies’ handbags, the procedure generally adopted being_ to snat eh the bag, make away with it to a hiding place, empty the bag, and divide fhe spoils. The«o offences, said (ho , ctiiel detective, were committed. _ last year. The money was spent principally in pleasure. His Worship remarked that, these were offences which could not Ire looked back upon with any pride by the accused. Boys who would snatch a_ bag from a woman seemed to be devoid of feeling. However, they would not be dealt with until after they had come before the Supreme Court on the other charges. This section of the case, there-, fore, would be adjourned sine die. Keenan was nob involved -in these charges. CHARGES OF RECEIVING. At the conclusion of the Police Court proceedings a special sitting of the Children’s Court was held to consider the eases of two youths who were involved in Clio bag-snatching cases and charged with receiving stolen property. The child welfare officer stated that he wished to look into the cases, and.the hearing was adjourned until Friday;, morning, when a special sitting ,oi the Children’s Court .will be held. 'The magistrate intimated that, in view of the circumstances of-these cases and their public interest, he would grant permission to the Press ,to be present at the hearing.