CHARGE OF THEFT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 91, 15 March 1935, Page 4

CHARGE OF THEFT

LABOURER PLEADS GUILTY. Appearing before Alessrs A. Headland and W. G. Ashworth, J.P.’s, at the Alagistrate’s Court yesterday, a labourer, George Henry Smith, with six aliases, was charged that, on Alarch 9, he stole from the residence of Air A. Al. Henson, Alt. Stewart, the sum of £3 3s 4d in money and a gold ring and purse valued at £1 13s, the property of Aliss Gladys Henson. Senior-Detective Quirke conducted the proceedings for the police. Accused was not represented by counsel. j Gladys Elizabeth Henson gave evi-. dence that she resided with her brother j at Alt. Stewart. On Alarch 9 she had i left the house at 3.15 p.in. and was j absent for about three hours. Prior to j leaving she had seen that all the win- j dows and doors on the ground floor . were closed, but the upper windows were open. She had lett a purso con-. taining money in a chest of drawers in | her bedroom. On returning, sho found | that a pie had been removed from the , meat safe and that the remnants were I lying under a bench in the scullery. 1 On going up to lier bedroom she had , found that the purse was missing. AVitness here identified a purse which was producod by the police. Continuing, witness stated that she had noticed a man walking down the | drive, as she entered the front gate, | but could not identify accused as the j man. Constable Ede, of Bulls, gave evi- ! dence of having effected the arrest of accused after questioning him. Accused had denied having been in the house, but on returning with witness to the place where accused had been sitting in some scrub a search had disclosed the money and the ring. Detective Power gave evidence of having interviewed accused on Alarch L 3 and taking a statement from him.

Accused had admitted therein that h® had entered the liouse and taken tho money and jewellery. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence