BURGLARY CHARGES

Evening Star, Issue 23725, 5 November 1940, Page 5

BURGLARY CHARGES

TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, November 4. In the Police Court to-day, Kenneth William Edward Bates, a labourer, aged 32, and Reginald George Bloomfield, a labourer, aged 33, W’ere charged with breaking and entering the counting house of Home Furnishers Ltd., and committing a crime on October 19; with being in possession of housebreaking instruments without lawful excuse by night; with having in their possession one and a-half plugs of gelignite with intent to commit a crime, and with stealing, on October 18, brace bits, a drill chisel, jemmy, and other tools, the property of Thomas Langley Simpson and Mate Bartulovich. Lacey Hall, manager of Home Furnishers Ltd., said that on going to the shop he found an unsuccessful attempt had been made to blow the safe open. There had been a fire in the shop, since the previous night, the estimated damage by fire and water to the stock being about £I,OOO. The damage to the building by fire was estimated at about £4OO.

After further evidence had been heard, Bates, who was arrested after the alleged burglary, pleaded guilty to the first three charges, and wns committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing tools, being committed for trial. Bloomfield, who denied that he knew anything about the burglary, and said that he was elsewhere on the nisrht in question, pleaded not guilty to nil the charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.