A YOUTHFUL BURGLAR.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 8

A YOUTHFUL BURGLAR.

THE DUNEDIN THEFTS. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. At the Dunedin City Police Court on Friday, before Messrs T. Ross and K, McLennan, J.P.'s, Tasiiian William Wilson was charged with having committed the theft, near Middlcmarch, of a revolver and some cartridges, valued at 30s, the property of some persons unknown; also that, on July 7, at Dunedin, he broke into and entered the countinghouse of the Westport Coal Company, in Birch street, with intent to commit theft, and that on the same date he broke into and entered the warehouse of Wilson, Balk, and Co., in Jetty street, and stole therefrom two tins of fish, valuod at Is Bd. 'He, was further charged with having, on July S, at Dunedin, broken into and entered tho warehouse of Messrs McCallum and Co. and stolen about £G in money and a diamond glass cutter, valued at 235.

James Duncan Cainoron, manager of the Westport Coal Company (Dunedin), stated that when he left his office at noon on the 7st inst. the doors and windows were secured. At .10.50 p.m. on the same dale ho was called to his office, when he found that the premises had been broken into, The handle of the safe had been broken off, and a screw wrench from one of the drays was on the safe, There had been no money left in the safe.

John Forbes, storeman in the employ of Messrs Wilson, Balk and Co., stated that he locked up the store and other parts of the premises on July 7 at 1 p.m. When he returned to the store on the following Monday he found that an entrance had been effected into the premises by the back store window. He found that two tins of fish had been opened on the premises, and a part of the .contents of each eaten. William Hugh Riddell, head salesman

in the employ of Messrs McCallum and Co,, stated that at 12.10 p.m. on July 7 he left the premises securely locked, also he left, £!) Os (id in his drawer. The diamond glass cutter produced Avas placed in the drawer. It was valued at £1 03. On Monday morning, July fl, in consequence of information, given, he made a 'search of his cash ulrnwer and found that an entrance had been effected by boring holes in the wood in front of the keeper of the lock. An entrance to the store was effected by the breaking of two panes,of glass in the window facing Yogcl street.

Detective Hall stated that/on the 16th inst,, along with Detective Cameron, he interviewed accused and asked how the diamond cutter came to, be in his possession. He then confessed committing the offences for which he was charged. Accused, in pleading guiity. sta'cd that lie had money when he came into town, but spent it, antl it was because he wanted to get money to go to a job at Alexandra that he committed the offence, He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, ,