BURGLAR CAUGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1929, Page 3

BURGLAR CAUGHT

OVER £TTO IN BELT.

(Per Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, August 8. Robert Slade, who was caught recently with “jemmies,” gelignite and skeleton keys, faced a crowded Police Court to-day. The most complete bungling outfit ever seen in the city was heaped on the table in front of the bench. Slade was charged with being found in possession of house-breaking tools, and a long series of charges of breaking and entering. At the conclusion of evidence, Slade pleaded guilty to all the charges and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Constable Whitehead said that on July 21, he was on duty at Hobson Street at 4.30 a.m., when he saw a man come out of the doorway of a bootshop, and come down the opposite side of the street, finally turning into a lane. “I called on him to stop,” said witness, “but he ran instead, and I chased him. Running up Pitt Street he climbed over a picket fence, where I followed and secured him. In answer to my inquiries as to his movements he gave most unsatisfactory replies. I searched him and found a jemmy and torch, whereupon I placed him under arrest. On the way down to the Police Station he asked me how much it was worth to let him go. When he was examined at the station £770 10s (Rd was found in a money belt beneath his singlet. There were also two spanners, a bag of skeleton keys, a shanghai and lead pellets, a quantity of gelignite, putty and a flask of whisky.” At the mention of whisky, Slade smiled for the only time while the evidence was being heard. Detective Knight said that accused’s room was searched, and a suit of clothes and overcoat were found together with gelignite and a large skeleton key. Trousers, with secret pockets, were also found, together with 28/- in pennies and 7/11 in. halfpennies. “The shanghai and pellets were used for breaking windows alongside a lock,” said Chief Detective Hammond. “A black sock found in Slade’s possession was for wiping away finger prints. Putty was used when blowing r, safe, and the big screw wrench was for tearing padlocks off.” Detective Knight said accused had stated that he had been three years in Auckland, coming originally from Australia and- South Africa.