YOUNG “CROOK”

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1927, Page 5

YOUNG “CROOK”

G. BREWER SENTENCED “CONVERTING” CARS Although he is only about 21 years of age, George Huia Brewer is fast making a name for himself as a confirmed “crook.” His exploits on the West Coast recently caused something of a sensation, and further light was shed upon his criminal career when he appeared in custody before Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M. at the Greymouth Magistrate’s Court to-day. Brewer, who was neatly attired in a blue suit, with soft collar and blue tie, was charged; (1) that on June 11, at Taipo, he stole a motor car, valued at £250, the property of Stanley Gray; (2) that he did unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, convert the car to his own use; (3) that on June 10, at Greymouth, he did unlawfully and without colour of right, but not so as to be guilty of theft, convert to his own use a motor car valued at £250, the property of Thomas Learmont. At the request of Detective H. C. Murch, the first charge was withdrawn, and accused pleaded guilty to the second and third. He was not represented by counsel. Detective Murch stated that, on May 25 last, accused escaped from custody at Wellington, where he was serving a gaol sentence of three and a-half years for breaking, entering and theft. He reached Greymouth on a steamer. On the night of June 10, he broke into Mr. Learmont’s garage, Shakespeare Street, and took hisi car, driving it as far as Taipo (between Kumara and Otira). While passing a shed there, Brewer noticed another car, similar in make and appearance, the property of Mr. Gray. He placed Learmont’s car in the shed, and drove away in that belonging to Gray, also taking eight gallons of benzine from a drum in the shed. He also made minor alterations to the car, with the object of escaping detection. He drove through to Westport, stayed there a few hours, and returned as far as Cronadun. On the way from Westport he drove the car over a bank, and was pulled on to the road again by one of Newman’s lorries. He was subsequently arrested in possession of the car by Constable Hill, at Inangahua. The damage done to Mr. Gray’s car when it went over the bank totalled £l5, but Mr. Learmont’s car was not damaged. The S.M.: What age is accused? — About 21 years. Asked if he had anything to say, accused replied in the negative. The S.M.: You are already serving a sentence, and no consideration is due to you. The Judge must have regarded yours as a bad case, otherwise he would have sentenced you to Borstal treatment. I shall order you three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour, on each of the two charges, to be cumulative, and to be served at the end of your present sentence. You will also have to answer a further charge of escaping from gaol, but that is another matter.

PENSIONER ROBBED. (Bpeoial to "Star.”) HOKITIKA, June 20. Two men, George Casey and Thomas Timmins, were arrested on Saturday last, and were brought before Mr W. Jeffries, J.P., this morning, charged with the theft of £5 14/ from William Jones, of South Hokitika. On.the application of the police, accused were remanded till Wednesday morning. Jones is a pensioner, and it' is alleged that Casey and Timmins went to his hut, while he was in bed, and after threatening the old man, went through his belongings and took the money stated. No bail was allowed. THEFTS & FRAUDS ELSEWHERE. GISBORNE BURGLARY (Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, June 18. The premises of Pettie and Company were raided last evening, and a number of small articles were taken by a burglar, who smashed the glass panel of the front door and made a hasty tour of the lower floor. VALUELESS CHEQUES CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. Having avoided arrest since April 6, Douglas Charles Hopewell, 28, described as a surveyor, was charged, in the Police Court yesterday, with obtaining £B/8/- by means of a valueless cheque. It was stated by Detective Studholme that other charges were pending. Hopewell was remanded in custody. THEFT OF PENNIES CHRISTCHURCH, June 19. Some time on Friday evening, thieves, entered the butchery of C. Were and Coy., Colombo Street, and stole a package containing 840 pennies. These had been left in the cooler, which was not locked. The till, containing only three pennies was not touched. WAIUKU ROBBERIES AUCKLAND, June 18. Burglars made a big raid on the small township of Waiuku last night breaking open with a jemmy four shops. In Spring Street, Mr. Naismith, fruiterer, left his safe open, and £25 was extracted, while £2 was stolen from Mrs. Brinton’s restaurant. Tobacco and cigarettes were taken from Mr. R. C. Wright’s shop. The doors of two shops in Bowen Street resisted the assault. PILLAGED CARGO. NEW PLYMOUTH, June 18. At the Police Court this morning, Roy Edward Hayes, a watersider, was fined £25 for being found in possession of uncustomed goods in the shape of six tins of jam, valued at £2 9/-, taken from the steamer Port Hardy. AN OLD OFFENDER. AUCKLAND, June 18. A smart arrest was made last night by two acting detectives, whose suspicions were aroused by the movements of an old criminal named (Thomas Rogers. When apprehended, he was found to have in his posses-

sion a plug of gelignite. Rogers was sent to gaol this morning for three months. “WORKLESS” PLEA FAILS. AUCKLAND, June 20. Cecil Mark Brown, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment at the Supreme Court for breaking entering and theft. Justice Reed said the accused’s plea that he was out of work and had stolen to provide for his wife and children would not hold water. Since serving a term of imprisonment for another offence, he had been living a self-indulgent life, spending his money on drink and amusement. Walter Henry McConnell, convicted of forgery and false pretences, who had also broken his probation, was sentenced to three years in gaol. A SAFE SMASHED. DARGAVILLE, June 20. Some time between five p.m. on Friday night and eight a.m. on Saturday morning, M. J. Nelson’s general store, Whatoro, was broken into, and a heavy safe taken outside and broken up with a sledge hammer and iron bar. The amount stolen consists of seven pounds in notes. The thieves also took about twenty shillings in cash from the till, and a ledger and cash book. The safe Iwas damaged beyond repair. No arrest has yet been made. TWO CARS STOLEN. AUCKLAND. June 20. At the Police Court, Raymond Patrick Letton. 35. admitted converting to his own use two motor cars, valued at £650 and £250 respectively. He was sentenced to five months’ gaol.