SIX PREMISES RAIDED

Evening Star, Issue 22327, 1 May 1936, Page 8

SIX PREMISES RAIDED

CHARGES AGAINST CONSTABLE AND WATCHMAN GOODS VALUED AT £ll6 [Pan United Pres* Association.] HASTINGS, May 1. The gallery of the Hastings courthouse was packed this morning for the hearing of the charges against Janies Baxter, police constable, and William Edward Cleaver, nightwatehman, who were arrested on the premises of Boachs Ltd. last week-end as the result of a trap set by the management. Accused were each charged before Mr J. Miller, S.M., on five counts of breaking, entering, and theft, and Baxter was further charged separately on three counts, dating from January, 1934, of breaking, entering, and theft, and also on six counts of stealing from the premises. Cleaver was also separately charged on one additional count of theft.

In all there were 20 counts, involving six business premises and a varied assortment of goods, produce, and other articles, of a total value of £ll6 16s 4d. The following charges were made jointly:—On April 26, 1936, by night did break and enter the premises of Boachs (1931) Ltd. with intent to commit a crime; (2) on or about December 20, 1935, did break and enter the premises of L. J. Harvey, hardware merchants, and steal one shot gun valued at £7 10s; (3) on or about May 14, 1935, by night did break and enter the premises of Boachs and steal a pair of men’s shoes, an overcoat, and five tins of tobacco, valued at £5 14s 3d, (4) on or about April 16, 1936, by night did break and enter Boachs and steal an eiderdown quilt valued at £5; (5) on or about April 17, 1936, by night did break and enter the premises of L. J. Harvey, and steal a shotgun and rifle ammunition, valued at £2 15s 6d. The charges against Baxter were: (1) On or about April 26, 1985, by night, did break and enter and steal from the premises of L, J. Harvey a shot gun and rifle ammunition, screw rivets, and a mitre box valued at £l3 4s 8d; (2) on or about February 1, 1935, by night did break and enter the premises of Boachs Ltd. and steal two pairs of boys’ pyjamas] a pair of towels, three pairs of boys’ shirts, four pairs of shorts, one and a-half pairs of linen sheets, a dressing gown, and a remnant of shadow tissue, valued at £5 13s 6d; (3) on or about April 26, 1934, by night did break and enter the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-operative, and steal tobacco and cigarettes of a value of £ll 11s lOd; (4) on or about April 1, 1935, did steal a repeater rifle valued at £6, from Land and Highways; (5) on or about November 1, 1934, did steal two bedspreads, a pair of boys’ trousers, a pair of men’s shorts, valued at £2 l6s, from Boachs; (6) on or about April 26, 1935, did stcal_ a 501 b chest of tea valued at £5 from Roach’s; (7) on or about February 1, 1936, did steal a carton of washing compound, a carton of curtain rods, and seven fishing lines, values at £1 10s 9d, the property of Clausens^Ltd.; (8) on or about January 1, 1935, and on divers dates to April 19, 1936, did steal two brass smoker stands, one brass bow), a brass pot, silver sugar basins, a silver cream jug, two sets of carvers, a set of lisli kiiives and forks, and a quantity of other goods valued at £3O, the property of L. J. Harvey; (9) on or about November 26, 1935, did steal a Cardax carpet, valued at £2l 10s, the property of A. Christie. Cleaver was charged that on or about Februarv 1, 1936, ho stole five fishing lines valued at 3s 9d, the property of Clausens Ltd. The case is proceeding.