BURGLARY AT ELTHAM

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 28 March 1935, Page 9

BURGLARY AT ELTHAM

TOOLS stolen from joiner PHONE USED FOR TOLL CALL MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL At the Eltham Court on Tuesday, before Messrs T. C. Stanners and L. Nairn, J’s.P., Leonard Lawrence de Malmanche, who hacl been remanded from New Plymouth, was charged with breaking and entering, on February 4, the premises of R. .T. Pepperell, Cornwall Street, Eltham, arid stealing carpenter’s tools valued at £4 17s and an oilskin coat valued at £l, the property of R. J. Pepperell. Detective Meiklejohn conducted the prosecution. Royc-e J. Pepperell, joiner, E'ltham, gave evidence that he left his premises just after 6 p.m. on February 4. At that time all doors and windows were locked with the exception of the upstairs sliding door, which was left unlocked so that the night watchman could make his inspection. When he returned a little after t a.m. next day he discovered that the sliding door had been opened and left open about two feet. An electric light globe had been removed from the far socket and put in one nearer the door. A small bottle containing some methylated spirits, which was not there before, was under the bench. A sack which had contained wood, was missing. An empty sack which had been lying on some timber outside, had gone” There were also three planes missing, as well as an iron square, a brace, a hammer, a rasp, a chisel and a bit, to the total value of about £4 17s. An oilskin coat valued at £1 had also •> disappeared. Sergeant Kelly, Stratford, had afteivvards returned the tools and coat. Later witness received an account for a toll call to J. Henry, Gordon Road, Stratford, which had been put through oil the night of February 4. He had made no call during the evening and could not account for it. Constable F. TV. Antill said that at about 8.30 p.m. on the evening of February 4 accused had come to him and asked for a bed. Ho said he had been to the Mayor, who had refused him a bed because he had smelt of drink. Witness said he also smelt drink on accused, who said that he had had nothing to eat but someone had shouted him a couple of drinks. Accused gave his name as Leonard Lawrence and said he had come from Douglas and was walking to Wellington. When asked to produce his unemployment levy book accused said that he had not got one, whereupon witness said he could not help him to get a bed. Next morning witness, as a result of receiving a call from Mr Pepperell, visited the factory wli ire he saw the bottle containing the methylated spirits and also impressions on the floor coinciding with those made with boots with studs on the soles.

PURCHASE OF PROPERTY Albert Blackburn, a second-hand dealer, New Plymouth, gave evidence to having purchased on the morning of February 5 an oilskin coat and tools corresponding with those missed from PepperelPs factory on February 4, from a man signing his name in the purchase book as “B. M’Kivie, 48, Tui Street, Masterton.” At an identification parade at the police station on March 18, witness picked oiit accused, but thought his nose was slightly different, it having a twist that he had not noticed when the man was in witness’ shop. Sergeant- Kelly, Stratfcrd, said that he visited John Radich’s fish shop and saw accused having a meal. He appear-, ed to have had liquor arid when witness asked where he came from accused replied: “New Plymouth.” He also said lie had slept the previous night in the open, at New Plymouth. He could not produce his unemployment levy books and gave his name as Leonard de Malmanche. He denied having been in Eltham on the night of February 4. Detective Meiklejohn said that he received particulars of the offence and the description of the man referred to by Constable Antill, at Stratford on February 5. Witness saw accused that day as he joined the 3.15 p.m. New Plymouth-Wanganui train and sent word to Sergeant Kelly. He saw accused ou March 18 at New (Plymouth station about the offence. Accused admitted going to Constable Antill at Eltham on February 4 about a bed. He said be had spent the night walking along the road from Eltham to New Plymouth, where he arrived at about 8 a.m. He denied having travelled up by the early train. He admitted having no money when at- Eltham. He said he had travelled back to Stratford by train, having received 10s from a friend named PeterseD at New Plymouth. He did not know Petersen’s address, although he was usually in the King Country. He had not put a toll call through from Eltham to anyone in the Toko district on February 4. He said he had had a

ride on Reader’s lorry from Toko to Stratford. He refused to change from the suit he was wearing into a navy blue one which 'he had been wearing on February 5. He offered no objection, to going in the identification parade along with thirteen other men in the police yard. When asked for samples of his handwriting accused saw no reason why he should give them as the police already had two of his letters for comparison. Accused said he had lived in the Masterton district.' but did not know of a Tin Street there. Accused wore shoes which would make marks similar to those described by Constable Antill. George Hutton, retired hank manager, New Plymouth, said that the signature on the slip of paper taken from the second-hand sales hook compared with the two letters produced, .signed Leonard Mahnanche, and he was <*: the opinion that all were by the same writer.

Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his. defence and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on May 18. Bail was granted ‘for £IOO, self £SO and one surety of £SO, conditional on accused reporting weekly to the police.