SURPRISE FOR JUROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 December 1933, Page 14

SURPRISE FOR JUROR

OWN WATCH AS EXHIBIT When a juryman at London Sessions recently, was inspecting some exhibits during the hearing of a case of alleged receiving, he recognised a watch which, he said, had been stolen from him.

Holding that the juror might be prejudiced, the chairman (Sir Percival Clarke) discharged the whole jury from giving a verdict, and said that the case would have to be tried by .another jury at the next sessions. Four men were charged with receiving stolen jewellery, silverware, and other valuables. Accused were Edward George Tucker, 56, compositor, Waterloo-road; Frank Williams, 31, waiter; Frederick Allen, 29, glazier; and Henry Albert Wade, 49, packing case maker. The last three named were also charged with “breaking and entering.” In the well of the court, on specially cBnstructed trays, were many clocks and jewellery. There were also three revolvers, a loaded truncheon, jemmy, cameras, binoculars, and wireless accumulators, all identified as part of the proceeds of twelve burglaries. In the third court, on the desks and seats, was another enormous array of miscellaneous property of the same kind. Included in it were three rifles, melted silver, clothing, wireless sets, rings, watches, necklaces, silverware, and cutlery, which the prosecution alleged were stolen. It was when this property was being inspected by the jury, that the juror recognised his watch.

“It is as curious a coincidence as could be imagined,” said Mr. Maurice Healy, K.C., for Tucker, in asking that the case should be postponed for another jury to hear. “CLEARING HOUSE” Mr. Eastwood, when opening the case for the prosecution, said that if the police were right they had unearthed one of the biggest receivers in London. They alleged that Tucker’s premises had been the clearing house for the proceeds of burglaries for a long time. Tuckei- was the principal, and Williams and Allen were merely the thieves. Wade quite obviously assisted Tucker, but to what extent it was difficult to discover. A curious feature of the case was that Tucker, who was the arch receiver, was employed as a compositor during the night, and also had a small dairy in the Waterloo-road. When his premises were searched a considerable quantity of property was found. Some of it was hidden in a false bottom of a kitchen table, which a detective heard rattle as he placed something heavy on it.

Other' property was found in a dummy ceiling which had been built into a room. It was packed with goods which the police alleged had been stolen. Only a small portion of the proceeds of each robbery had been recovered. In other cases Tucker had given some of the property to his friends to keep for him. Tucker, when told that he would be arrested, replied that he bought some of the articles in the Caledonian Market. He then added, “My nerves went. That is why I hid it. It was in the yard before. It was not stolen by me but by others. I have given them a few shillings as security. Has Wade ‘shopped’ me. or was it Ryan?” All the men were remanded in custody until next sessions.