THEFT FROM GARAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 31, 5 January 1945, Page 5

THEFT FROM GARAGE

SOLDIER'S OFFENCE.

In the Magistrate's Court, today, before Messrs M. A. Eliott and ' G. M. Ranson, J.P.'s, Stanley Lawrence Hawkins, a soldier, of Otaki,. was charged with the theft of a man's watch, a purse, and £1 15s 8d in money, of a total value of £6 17s, the property of R. W. Cannon. He was further charged with breaking- and entering' the countinghouse of Messrs Nicholson and,, , Skeates and with the theft of £3 10s in money, and £1 worth of stamps, also 4« in stamps from the office of Mrs Kathleen' ' Woodhkm, in the same premises. He was also charged with the theft of an attache case and a number of articles from Thomas' Eliery, valued at £4 10s, with the theft of an attache case and a number of articles in Masterton valued at £2 10s, the property of D. A. Kirkpatrick, and. further, that ho did attempt to break and enter the residence of A. Yeates, at Otaki, with intent to commit a crime. On this last charge he was remanded till January 12. On each, of the other charges, except the indictable one, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, the terms to be. concurrent. Evidence on the charge of breaking and entering Messrs Nicholson and Skeates'a premises was then heard. Frank Hearsey, lorry driver, stated that he was employed by the Kairanga County Council, which parked its lorries in Messrs Nicholson and Skeates's garage'. When he entered the garage he found the office floor covered with papers, and telephoned Mr Skeates". Percy S. Skeates stated Uiat he found . a window in the premises broken. The office had been entered and the money had : stamps taken. Two full sheets of petrol coupons had been taken, as well as the day's takings from coupons. All the and trucks in the garage had been ransacked. Mrs Woodham's service station had an office in the garage and it had also been entered.

Evidence was also given by Victor J. Nicholson Miss A. M. Honore, who is employed by the Woodham Service Station, and Constable. C. A. l'ennell, who read a statement made by accused admitting entering the garage and taking the money, stamps, and petrol coupons. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.