ALLEGED BURGLARIES

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 12

ALLEGED BURGLARIES

YDUNG MAN CHARGED DENIES EVIDENCE OF ALLEGED ACCOMPLICES A complete denial of the story of his two alleged accomplices that he was with them (and took an active part) when they raided shops in the city and in Mosgiel on the night of January 24 was the defence of Edward Farris, a young man charged in the Supreme Court to-day with a series of offences arising from happenings of that evening. Farris was charged with breaking and entering the shop of the Self-help Company in Prince Albert road with intent to commit a crime therein, attempting to break and enter the shop of Cyril Harris Jamieson, attempting to break and enter the shop of Herbert Croft, and with breaking and entering the shop of Cyril Richardson Joll at Mosgiel and stealing tobacco and cigarettes. There was a further charge of receiving property stolen from this store.

Farris, who was represented by Mr O. G. Stevens, pleaded not guilty. Opening the case for the Crown, Mr F. 13. Adams stated that early in the evening of January 24 a car was hired and used as a means of transport in the commission of these crimes. The evidence for the Crown would largely consist of that of two men who were implicated in the affair, and who were now serving a sentence for their part. The Crown Prosecutor referred to the visits to the various shops, pointing out that each man in the party, no matter what his part, was equally culpable Tlie accused Farris was on one occasion sitting in the car while premises were being entered, having the car ready to escape if an alarm were sounded, but he was still equally guilty of the offence of breaking and entering.* Farris made a statement to the police in which he said that he and a man named Webb hired a car about 5 p.m. for a “ joy ride,” and “ drove about ” until 7_p.ni; Between then and 8 p.m. they picked up another young man (the accused said he did not know this man’s name), and they then “ drove about ” until 10.30, when Farris claimed that he left Webb and the other man and went to visit a woman, with whom he . stayed until 6 a.m. Informed that both Webb and the other man (Stack) had told the police that he _ was with them in the several burglaries, Farris denied their story, saying that they were deliberately lying. _ Harold Pans, manager of the Self--help Store in Prince Albert road, said that when he went to the store on the morning of January 25 he found that it had been broken into. The stand of tobacco had r been interfered with, but he could not say if any had been taken.

Archibald Crawford Spiers, plumber, residing opposite the Self-help Store; said that he heard occasional knocking on the morning of January 25. He got up and looked out of his window and saw a car outside the store. He thought that someone needed assistance and whistled, and the car, a lightcoloured sedan, drove off. Prior to this he saw the flash of a torch in the shop. Cyril Harris Jamieson, whose store is in Mailer street, and Herbert Croft, a grocer, of Cavell street, ~lso described the raids made upon their premises on the night of January 24. The luncheon adjournment was then taken.