Labourer to Appear On Trial Before Jury

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 249, 22 October 1935, Page 8

Labourer to Appear On Trial Before Jury

CHARGED ON TWO COUNTS IN THE LOWER COURT

When Mathew George Matson, 32-year-old Palmerston North labourer, appeared ou remand in the Magistrate’s Court at Palmerston North yesterday, the police withdrew charges relating to breaking and entering. Matson was faceu firstly, with, on October 3, stealing from the house of George Francis Dewhurst, in Ivanhoe terrace, a gold watch chain, medal, sovereign case, compass, 3 sovereigns, a piece of greenstone and six table knives; of a total value of £l4 14s and,, secondly, with receiving the articles from some person unknown, well knowing them to have been dishonestly .obtained. Messrs. W. G. Ashworth and C. H. Whitehead J. 'sP., were on tho Bench. Mr. T, F. Belling represented accused and Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike conducted tho case for the police.

Pound Articles Missing In evidence the polico first called G. F. Dewhurst, Palmerston North accountant, of Ivanhoe terrace, who told how on October 3 last he had left knives in a box in the scullery at his home. About 7 p.m., he and his wife —the only peoplo in tho house —had gone to tho front room for the evening, later retiring at 10.30 o’clock. Whilst in the sitting-room the door had been closed. A bungalow window, near the front door, may have been open and it was possible to open tho front door by reaching through this pening. About 5 p.m. the following day certain articles in the house had been found missing.

Tho articles produced in Court, said witness, were those which had disappeared. Naturally he could not bo sure of the sovereigns. The total loss had been £l4 14s. No authority had been given to remove tho goods, he added, and he did not know accused. Movements Are Recorded

Mervyn Vivian Johnson, of Palmerston North, said that on October 3 he had been driving a taxi and had received a call whilo on tho stand, to Raingitikei street. This would be just after 8 p.m. Accused had entered the car on its arrival and had asked to be driven “anywhere.” Subsequently witness had received instructions to drive to a house in King street. Accused had entered a house and, after 10 minutes, had returned to tho car with three other men, all travelling to Bourke street, and, after that to the Princess hotel. A man had left the taxi in Bourke street and had returned after a brief absence. On arrival at the hotel all had left and witness had been instructed to return in an hour. When witness had called back for his fares accused had been showing signs of having had liquor. Accused had told witness that he had plenty of money and showed him a sovereign.

Sovereign Sold in Cafe The proprietor of the ‘ ‘Better ’Ole Cafe,” Prank Ernest Wynne, next related how accused had ‘walked right into the kitchen” one evening about three weeks .ago, “and asked for a feed.” Accused had only had a sovereign and had asked for and received 25/- for it. Given As Keepsake

A barman at the Royal hotel in the city, Reginald Thomas Walter Chatfield, declared that on October 11 accused had been in the bar on two occasions and the second time produced a gold watchchain, gold medal, a piece of goldmounted greenstone ,and a gold compass case. (The articles produced were identified by witness at this stage.) Accused had stated that the articles had been given to him by his grandfather as a keepsake about 20 years before.

Accused had been in the bar later the same day and had given witness the gold compass as a security for 1/- taxi fare lent him.

Saw Police Stop-Notice How he had tested the jewellery when it had been brought to his shop by accused was told by John King, jeweller. After other evidence of a corroborative nature.

Detective E. Barling, on oath, said that about 3.30 p.m. on October 11 he had called at King’s jeweller’s shop in Coleman Place. Accused had been the only customer in the shop and witness had noticed a gold watchchain on the counter. After examining it he had asked for the police stop-notice and had told accused, who said it was his property, where he had obtained it as it was stolen property. He had said “you’ve got mo this time; you’ve been after me a long time. ” In accused’s hand had been the sovereign case which ho had appeared to put in his pocket. When told he would have to go to the police station accused had mentioned his taxi -which he wished to dismiss. This vehicle had been used then by witness to take accused to the station but, on arrival there, some of the property was not on accused. A search had revealed it in the car. The compass had later been recovered as the result of inquiries made.

Constable E. H. Compton stated that on October 12 accused had intimated his willingness to make a signed statement about the articles. Accused in this had declared that a man (only known to him by sight) had given him jewellery in Rangitikei street. The unknown man had told him to tako it and try to sell it to King and accused would be given a quarter of the amount paid. Matson said also that he had given the compass to - a barman and other pieces to a taxi-driver. Subsequently accused had told witness that on the evening of October 3 ho had been at Edgeware. road and, leaving there just after 7 o’clock had walked towards town. At Wellesbourne street he had met a man lie knew by sight. This man had asked where a sovereign could bo cashed and subsequently ordered a taxi. They had gone to King street, picked up another two men and all had gone to the Princess hotel. Here the man he had met gave him a sovereign which he had obtained 25/- for and had given the money to this friend. This, accused had added, was the same man that had given him the jewellery to sell.

As the result, of the information wit

ness had gone to the Princess hotel and recovered the sovereign which had been cashed.

Through Mr. Relling, accused pleaded not guilty to both counts and reserved his defence. He was committed to the Supreme Court for trial Bail was renewed as previously.