FURNISHING THE HOME.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 957, 8 March 1910, Page 6

FURNISHING THE HOME.

POWELKA BEFORE THE COURT,

COMMITTED FUR TRIAL

The remarkable series of burglaries with which Joseph Powolka stands chargad occupied tho Magistrates Court yesterday, Mr A. D. Thomson, S.M., presiding, THE CHARGES. The following are tho oharees:Breakiug and entering residence of Mr Jaa. Robbie. Waldegrave street on 12th Deoember, IDO'J, stealing therefrom goods valued at £7; breaking and entering J. B, Clarkson's ou 6th February and stealing goods valued at £l2; breaking and entering Mrs Hardley's (Joseph street) on 2! ! th January and stealing goods valued at £SO; breaking and entering E. H. Kidd's on 36th January, and stealing goods valued at £SO; oreaking and entering N. J. Metcalf's ou January 24th and stealing goods valued at £10; breaking and entering the residence of Harold R. Cooper, in Queen street, and stoaling goods valued at £l7 on July 27th, 1909, Accused was undefended. SubInspector O'Douovan prosecuted. Harold Cooper, solicitor, of Palmerston North, said that on July 27th lie left his home in Queen sfcie'et in the morning, leaviug the rooms all looked up. He returned at 8.15 in the evening. He then found that somebody had been in the house, the back door being open and several things missing. The portum teau and clothes, eto., produced were his. A dress suit is still missing aud also a silver shaving brush. The value of the missing articles was £2O. PICTURES ON THE LAWN. A large stack of piotures was found on the lawn at the back. An axe was found close to a bediooni door and this had evidently been used to prise it open Witness had the only key of the front! door, and every otlior one was looked on the inside. On Saturday week lie wont to 170 Oliuroh street aud found all the things produced there. Edward Kidd, land agent, living in East stroet, said on December 24th, lie loft limrjo with his wife early in the morning, He returned on January 26th and found about half his household fffeots gone. He antlioiised nobody to remove theui. Hniexc found them with Deteotive Quirke and Constable Barry in a home in Church street, Everything wa9 th I'd except a quilt and a brush case. The value of the stolen articles was £GO.

Jauies Robbie, retired farmer of Waldegrave street, told a similar story. Ho left ou the morning of December 23rd, with liia wife for a holiday, leaviug tho house with the window seoure and the doori locked, TAKING DOWN THE CURTAINS. On Jnauary 6th they returned and found the doors and everything still shut, but the ourtains were removed from a bow- window and the table oloth, olook, gloyes, looking glass, and a little money were missing. The value was £7.

Norrnau Metcalf, of. Featherston street east, went to Foxton with his wife on December 4th, leaving the house locked tip and seonre. On January 39th they returned and found one wiudow open and Borne goods missing to the value of £lO. Hopoful Barnes Gibbons, secretary to -J. H, Olarkson and Go., of Ohuroli street, Palmerston North, went to Wellington on February 7th and on his return next day found one of the warehouse windows broken in, and some goods missing, aome belonging to the firm and some to himself These inoladed six boxeß of oigars numbering 300, and several tyres. The bioyole tyres were worth, £7, and the cigars £3. Acoused was present when witness identified them, bat said nothing. Thomas Henry Riohards, storeman for Olarkson's, deposed as to the warehouse being securely looked up and the windows fastened on the night in question. Mary Hardley, of George street, said on December 23rd she left home at 7 a.m. for Canterbury, leaving no one in the house. She r«. turned on January 26th, and found carpets and curtains mis3iug and also most of the furniture.

All the witnesses identified various property produoed.

Constable Barry said lie visited aooused's house in Ohorcli street west on February 25tli to look (or revolver bullets. Aooused was not tbere, Constable Kiufj; being on the premises. His suspicions were aronsed by a piotnre, "A SAORLDTOE OF VANITY." He then found some cushions belonging to Mrs Hard ley. Witness found no bullets. Next day Mr Kidcl and Detootive QuirJie returned to the house ami the former olaimed some goads. Acoused made no reply wheu Mr and Mrs Kidd and Mrs Hardlev identified their goods in his presence. All the'goods were in use and the curtaius and pictures on the walls. Deteotive Qnirke gave evidence to the same effeot. Aoousod's wifo with her mother had picked out some articles of her own iu the house. ALL HE OWNED. To aocused • All his wife claimed was some food and a little orockery. Ooustablo King deposed to having arrestod aocused. Mrs Powolka cumplained that her husband had a revolver. Auoused was committed for trial to the next sitting of the Supreme Court in May, Accused was remamlod till next Monday on a charge of breaking and entering fho premises of Alfred Uixou, butcher and stealing a steel.