“AFTER THE PAY-ROLL”

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 September 1927, Page 4

“AFTER THE PAY-ROLL”

BURGLARY AT GOVERNMENT WORKS OFFICE.

AN ANTICIPATED VISIT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., This Day.

In the Police Court this morning, Michael Hannah, a Syrian, aged 23, was charged with breaking and entering by night the counting-house of the Governament on the railway deviation works.

Senior-Detective Quirke told the Bench that it was alleged that the accused had broken into the office at three o’clock in the morning of September 21st. The building was a place at wliich the men on the deviation works were paid, prior to that date. Evidence was given by William Bell, engineer in charge of the works, who stated that, acting on information received, he and Constable Boyd secreted themselves in the building on the night of September 20th. Early next morning they heard a noise of some-one breaking into the building and moving about inside.

Later they hoard footsteps and someone running down the road. Five minutes later they saw the accused in company with Detective Barling. A big iron box that wasi usually padlocked, was found broken open, and the contents had disappeared. The sate contained £5 in. cash, a cheque, and some stamps. No effort was made to open the safe. Detective Barling gave evidence as to having kept the deviation office under attention. On the morning of September 21st he caught the accused after a chase, near the deviation office. The accused at once made a statement that he had done the job entirely alone and was after the men’s pay-roll, but got frightened and ran away. At the police station he said he would not have gone to the deviation, but for it having been suggested to him. On September 33rd the accused was shown gelignite that had been found near the office, and he admitted that it had been taken there for the purpose of blowing open the safe, adding that anbther person had been concerned —one who claimed to be experienced in the use of explosives. Witness believed this, and ha cl suspicions as to who it was. He did not believe that the gelignite had been placed by the , accused where it was found. Information that an attempt would be made to break open the office came from several sources.

The accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial, bail of £3OO being allowed.