TWO CHARGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 278, 22 October 1935, Page 10

TWO CHARGES

MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. At a sitting of tho Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon, a labourer, Matthew George Matson, appeared before Messrs W. G. Ashwortii and C. H. Whithead, J.P.’s, charged:—(l) That on or about October 3, at Palmerston North, he did steal from the dwelling-house of George Francis Dewhirst, a gold watch chain, a gold medal and other articles, of a total value of £l4 14s, the property of Mr Dewhirst; and (2) that, on or about October 3, at Palmerston North, ho did receive from some person or persons unknown, these articles, knowing them to have' been dishonestly obtained. Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike represented the police, -while Mr T. F. Itelling appeared for accused, who pleaded not guilty. George Francis Dewhirst, company accountant, gave evidence that on October 3he had placed six knives in a drawer in the scullery of his residence. In company with liis wife he had spent the evening in the sit-ting-room, retiring at 10.30 p.m. The door of the sitting-room was shut. He could not say definitely whether a window at the front of the house had ben left open or not. On the following evening Mrs Dew-hirst reported the loss of the knives from the scullery, while the other articles enumerated in the charge were missing from the dressing table in the bedroom. The articles produced were identified by witness as being his property; he valued them at £l4 14s. Mervin Vivian Johnson, a relief driver for a taxi proprietor, gave evidence that on the 3rd inst. he received a call to the corner of Rangitikei and Maire Streets shortly after 8 p.m. On arrival here a man, whom witness knew to be accused, had got into the car, telling witness to drive him to King Street. His fare had entered a house, returning eight ox 10 minutes later. Accused w 7 as accompanied by three other men and witness had driven them to Bourke Street and thence to Terrace End. At Bourke Street one of the men had alighted, returning a few minutes later. On arrival at the Princess Hotel, Terrace End, he had dropped his passengers, being ordered to return an hour later. He had done so and had fount! accused showing signs of having had liquor. Accused had announced that he had plenty of money and had produced some, returning it to his pocket. Witness had then driven the party to a restaurant in Rangitikei Street, accused paying witness Bs, although the fare was 5s 6d. Acused had told him to keep the change. Niels Nielsen, window cleaner, testified that he knew accused. The latter had worked for him till October 3. On that date he had been in company with accused and a man named Johansen, the three of them having some drinks together. They had then gone to witness’s residence, which was two doors from Mr Dewhirst’s. Accused had left at 7.15 p.m., • although he- had been absent for a period earlier.

Frank Ernest Wynne stated in evidence that he was the proprietor of a restaurant in Rangitikei Street. On or about October 3 accused had come into the restaurant, coming through to the kitchen to request that he be given a meal. Accused had stated that he only had a sovereign and that lie wanted 25s for it. He (witness) had changed the sovereign as requested. He had kept the sovereign for a few days and had got rid of it. Reginald T. W. Chatfield, barman in tho Royal Hotel, stated that he lived privately in Waldegrave Street. On Friday week last accused had called into the hotel, staying in the bar till 11.45 a.m. Accused had left, returning at 12.58. After having a few more drinks accused had produced a gold chain with compass, a piece of greenstone, a medal and a sovereign case. Accused had informed witness that the articles had been given him by his grandfather about 20 years before. Witness went off duty at 1 p.m. and on returning had found that accused had left. However, accused had returned at 3 p.m., leaving at approximately 3.30 p.m. At accused’s request he had ordered a taxi for him. Accused had requested the loan of Is to pay tho fare, offering the compass as security. John King, jeweller, of Coleman Place, gave evidence that on the lltli inst. accused had called at his shop at about 3.30 p.m., where he had offered a watcli-cliain and other articles, and had asked that they be valued. After witness had tested the bar of the chain, accused had requested witness to make him an offer. Accused had then produced a piece of greenstone, but witnes had replied that it was of no use to him. Witness had then noticed the initials on the chain and had observed they corresponded with those given in a notice from the police. Witness had informed accused that the articles had been stolen and accused had replied “I don’t care, so you shouldn’t.” Witness identified the articles produced as those which had been tendered by accused. Detective Barling had arrived on the scene and accused had departed with the police officer.

Robert Richards, taxi driver, testified that he had answered a call to the Royal Hotel, where accused had emerged from the hotel and had asked to be driven to King’s, the jeweller, in Coleman Place. On arrival accused had requested him to wait. About seven minutes later accused had come out to tell witness to come back later. On returning. Detective Barling had put accused into the back of the car and had ordered witness to drive to the police station. The articles produced were those which had been later found under the mat in the hack of the car. Detective Barling gave evidence relative to having called in at Mr King’s jewellery shop, when accused had been the only person outside the counter. Mr King had been behind tho counter, there being a watch on the counter between them. He had asked accused whether it was his and accused had answered “Yes.” On being informed that it was stolen property, accused had said “You have got ihe this time. You have been after me for a long time.” Accused had informed witness that he had a taxi waiting for him outside find lie had pilnced accused in it, taking him to the police station. On arrival, at the police-station accused had been searched, but the sovereign case was missing. In company with Richards he had searched tho taxi, but had failed to discover tho sovereign case. It had later been recovered and as the result of further investigation he had recovered the compass from a barman at the Royal Pfotel. He had then arrested accused and formally charged him with the theft. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Constable Compton said that on October .12 accused made a statement

voluntarily in which he detailed his meeting a man, whom lie did not know, and who had given him jewellery to sell at Mr King’s, accused to take a quarter of the proceeds. Accused went into Mr King’s once but Fir King was out and on a second occasion when accused was in the shop Detective Barling came in and took him, and the jewellery, to the police station. When he was getting out of the taxi lie had handed the sovereign case to the driver. On October 14 accused bad made another statement, said witness, in which he said he had been at No. 10 Edgeware Road on the night of the burglary. He left between 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. and got as far as Wellsbourne Street when he met a man lie did not know by name, although ho knew him well by sight. That man and accused liad walked to town together and with two others they went to an hotel. The barman there had cashed a sovereign for 255. That sovereign had been recovered, said witness. Accused, through his solicitor, pleaded not guiltv and reserved his defence. Mr. Itelling asked that bail be allowed The Bench committed accused for trial at the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed in one surety of £SO and a personal bond of £SO.