BURGLARY CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 22954, 11 May 1938, Page 4

BURGLARY CHARGES

SMALL STORES RAIDED ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE'S STORY ACCUSED HAD EQUAL SHARE OF PROCEEDS The greater part of yesterday afternoon’s hearing of the case against Edward Farris, who was charged in the Supreme Court with a series of offences arising from the burglary of several small stores on the night of January 24 and on the morning of January 25, was occupied with the evidence of an alleged accomplice in crime, who spoke in detail of the part both he and the accused allegedly played in the various offences.

Mr F. B. Adams conducted the case for the Crown. Mr 0. G. Stevens represented Farris, who pleaded not guilty.

Further evidence was given by Cyril Richardson Joll, w'ho described his losses of tobacco and cigarettes as the result of the burglary of his store at Mosgiel on the night of January 24. Ihe value of the goods missing was fully £7.

John William Davis, a baker, living at Mosgiel, said that a car pulled up at the bakehouse, in which he was employed, at 4.10 on the morning of January 25. Two men got out of the car, and one asked for a loaf of bread. One was a man named Samways. They said they had been to Balclutha, and added that they would not stop. They left without getting any bread. Joll’s shop was in the direction in which the car turned.

To Mr Stevens; Witness saw only two men in the car. He had no trouble in identifying Samways, but did not recognise the other man in a parade. Heather Amelia Booth, an employee at White Star Motors, said that at 5 p.m. on January 24 a man named Webb came in and secured a rental car for the period until midnight. There was another man—the accused; — with him. Webb came back at 8.20 the following morning with the ear, wlych had registered 132 miles since it had been out. Witness saw Farris standing down the street while Webb was still at the White Star office.

Robert Owen Wilkinson, foreman for White Star Motors, said that the car Webb took was a light-brown. The contract specified that it was to be returned at midnight. It came back at 8.30 a.m. Webb said that they had been to Balclutha. Witness and Detective Marsh examined the car later in the day and found a portion of a Dunhill cigarette packet. Ralph Thomas Webb, a labourer now serving a term in the Borstal Institution in connection with the offences committed on January 24, gave evidence. Farris, he said, waited' outside while he went in to get a rental car. This had been done at Farris’s request. The latter joined him as he drove the car off. They travelled about the town, and when they reached Hope street Parris said- that he was going to drive, as he had actually paid for the car. Witness replied that it was taken in his name, and he felt that he should drive, but Farris pushed him out of the driving seat. They subsequently drove about the city andi to the beach, and about 8 p.m. went to a house in Albany street, into which Parris went for 10 minutes. Ho did not say what he had been doing. Later they went to a house in Serpentine Avenue with some beer, and for about half an hour after that were driving around the town again. They then returned to Serpentine Avenue, where they drank the beer, and between 10 and 10.30 went to Samways’s in Albany street (not the house mentioned earlier by witness). His housekeeper, a Miss Cleever, was there. Witness knew Samways as “ Stack.” The latter was half-drunk. Farris then asked witness to come out for a drive in the car. and they went on to Waitati. Returning through- Port Chalmers Farris suggested “ trying ” a shop there, but they changed their minds and came back to the city. They stopped at the bridge in Anzac Avenue, where Samways picked up some iron bars. Then they went out to the Selfhelp Store in Prince Albert road, where Samways forced the door with the bars. Witness was beside Samways, the accused staying in the ear. When Samwavs and witness were in the store, into which they had . taken two bags from Samways’s place, Farris gave the alarm, and they went off, having left one of the bags behind. Then they drove off to Mormngton, Farris having suggested that they should try to break into some shops there. Farris and Samways got out and went round a corner, leaving witness in the car. They beard someone coming downstairs in a place they entered and came back, and then the party went back to town again. When Farris and Samways left the car at Moruington they wore gloves and took bags with them. - They then drove to Croft s shop in Carroll street. Here Samways got out with one of the bars and opened a lock on the door. There was another lock on the inside he could not get at, so they moved off to Mosgiel, where Farris and Samways opened a window in Mr J oil’s shop with a bar. They asked witness if he would get in, as he was smaller, but he declined. After a visit to the bakehouse they went back to doll’s place, where witness then got in through the window. They handed him in a bag which he filled with tobacco and cigarettes. After this they went back to Samways’s house, where they divided evenly the stolen goods—one-third each. Farris and witness left about ,8 a.m. Witness left his share at his own home and then he and Farris went back to Stafford street to return the car. Witness drove and Farris got out at the corner of Manse street. Witness asked him for the extra money for the car, and Farris replied that-he would get it later.

Witness was arrested four days later. Detective Marsh recovering his share of the robbery. When witness was released on bail Farris met him and asked him why he “ squealed;” and witness told him that he (Farris) had been responsible for getting witness into trouble, and that he was going to get himself out of it. To Mr Stevens: Witness had known Samways under the name of Stack for between six and nine months. He considered that Farris was the ringleader in the thefts. He had discussed the alleged crimes with Samways while they were in the prison.yard. He had stated in the lower court that they had not discussed the crimes. Mavis Edna Cleaver said that she formerly lived in Albany street, and that she kept house for Samways for about four months. On the afternoon of January 24 Farris came to the house, but she" was not sure' whether Webb was present or hot. Samways had had a few drinks, and about 11..30 Farris tried to drag him outside. The next time she saw the men was when she got up in the morning. She saw about half a dozen tins of tobacco and some cigarettes on the -table. She asked where the goods had come from, and was told to mind her own business.

To Mr Stevens: Witness described the events at Samways’s on the night of January 24. There was a ‘ bit ot a party.” , , , Mr Stevens: You feel revengeful towards Parris?—lt is only right that I should. , , Did you say in the lower court that you would do everything in your power to see him in prison?—l said that it was not right that he should be let free. / , . , Sydney Joseph Samways, who is also serving a sentence at the present tune, said that he sometimes went under the name of “ Stack,” which was his stepfather’s name. Witness described his movements on the night of January 24. He was not drunk and he was not sober—he ' was “ three sheets in the wind.” Farris came along to his place about 7.30 or 8 with a young lady, but did not stay long. Witness went out for a while and returned about 10. JO or 11. There were about 10 people in the house. Witness lay down on the bed for a sleep, and when he came to Farris was leading him outside to a car. Witness did not want to go, and Miss Cleaver also seized his arm. “ But I had the drink in and then decided to go,” added witness. Webb was in the car. ' The court then adjourned until this morning.