JEWELLER ROBBED

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 July 1946, Page 2

JEWELLER ROBBED

OFFENDER COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE

EARLY MORNING CRIME The -story of a burglary, in which watches valued by their owner at approximately £4OO .were • , en from the window of the jeweller shop of A. L. Sutherland, in Tainui street, on the morning of Sunday,' July 21, was told this morning, when John Laird Taylor, single, aged 23 years, a former railway porter, appeared before Messrs. P. C. Heaphy and J. B. Kent, J.P.’s, in the Magistrates Court at .Greymouth, on a charge, of breaking, entering, and committing theft. *• He was represented by Mr. W. D. -Taylor,, and pleaded guilty. A. L. Sutherland, jeweller and watchmaker, ‘identified a box-full of watches, which he valued at £4OO, as being his property. One. watch was the only one of its type in New Zealand.

Constable Pt. Hickling gave evidence ’of inspecting the jewellers premises during routine patrol on July 20 '.and 21, and told how he found the window broken and a number of articles missing. Account of Arrest. Constable J. P. Molloy said that at 8.45 a.m. on July 21 he had visited Manchester House to interview the accused regarding other matters. He had asked the accused to come to the police station with him, and the accused appeared to be very worried. After seeking an assurance that he would get a “fair spin”, if he told everything, the accused said that the “stuff” he got from the ‘‘job” he did that morning was in a suitcase on his bed. Later at the police station the accused made a statement. In this he said he had ••■got “pretty drunk during the afternoon of July 20 and at night, and wandering down Tainui street at about 4 a.m., saw the window display at Sutherland’s. He suddenly decided he would like some watches. He removed all the watches in the vicinity after breaking the window by pressing his body against it. He was alone at the-time. To Mr. Taylor, witness said that he had suspected the accused had been responsible for. the robbery, when he went to interview him. The accused was committed to the Supreme Court at Christchuich foi sentence.

Other Charges. Taylor was also charged with foui other offences involving theft, but on the application of Senior-Sergeant R. C. Mcßobie, who conducted the proceedings, the accused was remandec. to appear before a magistrate in Christchurch on these charges, this to follow his appearance before the Supreme Court on the indictable offences. The four charges alleged that he stole a cycle valued at £l7/15/- from Charles Henry Hearn on July 19; a cycle valued at £lO from Alan Cameron on July 18, a cycle valued at £lO from Stewart Robertson on July 12, and an overcoat valued at £3 10/- from Roy Spark on June 21.

ESCAPE FROM GREYMOUTH POLICE STATION

While awaiting trial for robbing a jeweller’s shop, John Laird Taylor made his escape from the Greymouth police station at 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. An immediate search was made by the police and a description of the missing man was broadcast, but ho eventually gave himself up to the proprietor of the Taramakau Hotel, H. O. Jefcoate, some .time before 7.45 p.rn., after having spent the afternoon and part of the evening drinking in ■ two hotels.

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, Constable I-I. Cloake and Senior Sergeant R. C. Mcßobie described how the accused had been allowed to wash in the scullery near the watch-house, haying been placed on his honour. This latitude was given to prisoners on account of the lack of conveniences at the station, but in this instance the accused had violated his trust. In a statement made on his return at 7.45 the same day, the accused said that' he had made his way along the railway line to Karoro and there caught a railcar to Camerons.

The accused pleaded ’’’guilty to the charge of escaping from lawful custody, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Christchurch for sentence.

Electricity Nationalisation. Electricity supply companies have refused to assist the Minister of Fuel (Mr. E. Shinwell) in framing his bill for the nationalisation of the industry. This is revealed in letters exchanged between Mr. Shinwell and the companies’ association, says The Times. The companies declined because it would be inconsistent with their .belief that the country would suffer by the change. They say that no cases for nationalisation have so far been disclosed.—London July 25. Ban on Dutch Ships.

Left-wing delegates were again defeated last night when, at a meeting of the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council, a previous recommendation to lift the “black” ban on Dutch ships was re-endorsed. The voting was 80 for and 75 against. The Australian Council of Trade Unions first recommended the lifting of the ban in February and two weeks later the New South Wales Council'supported the decision, but the waterfront unions have maintained the ban.—Sydney, July 26.

American Entry Bonds The last of the New Zealand fiancees who were delayed in San Francisco by the immigration authorities were released to-day when 500 dollar entry bonds were received for them. These girls were not mot at San Francisco. They will entrain to-night for their homes elsewhere in the country. The Red Cross made contact with their husbands-to-be, who have posted the necessary bonds, which will be returned if the couples marry within 90 days. All future fiancees will each need a 500-dollais entry bond; 500 dollars in an Ameiican bank; and £ 150 in travellers cheques before they will be . permitted to board a ship for America.— San Francisco, July 27.