TWO BURGLARS CAUGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15004, 28 May 1912, Page 5

TWO BURGLARS CAUGHT.

A DOMINION ROAD THEFT. HARD LABOUR AND DETENTION, The investigation of 'the many burglaries that have occurred in Auckland during the past few months has given '■ the detective force some very stern and arduous work lately. A rather mysterious theft was committed in Dominion Road in March last, and two suspects appeared before His Honor Mr. Justice Sim in the Supreme Court yesterday. Two young men named William Reeves and Joseph Piaggi were charged that on March 7 last they broke and entered the store of William Ryland McLeod in Dominion Road, and stole certain articles of clothing. The prisoners were also charged that on March 9 they were found in possession of certain articles knowing them to have been stolen. Piaggi and Reeves entered pleas of not guilty on. each charge. The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown Prosecutor, outlined the facts of the case. Several of the articles missing from McLeodV shop were found in a cottage occupied by the prisoners. Reeves said he found them in a brown paper parcel on March 7 on the footpath, and Piaggi said he found them on March 14 in a bush near the footpath. William Ryland McLeod gave evidence as to his premises being entered and as to the theft of the articles, the total value of which was between £8 and £9. The goods produced were, he believed, his own property; they were identical in texture and design with those which had been in his shop. His name appeared on the paper wrapper produced.' He could not say definitely that these articles had not been sold. .' ■ ■" ■'' '■'';.■ Detective Cummings said that on March 9, with Detective Ho-wke, : he Visited the cottage occupied by the accused. In answer to his question they said all the wearing apparel in the room belonged to themselves. Witness found two pairs of new trousers and a storm flannel behind the ; door, id four pairs of new socks underneath the mattress. Both men said they could give statements accounting for their possession of these goods. Afterwards, when passing McLeod's shop, Piaggi. asked "Is that' the shop that was broken into?"Piaggi pointed out the bush near the shop . where he said he had found- the goods, but Reeves said he had found them on the footpath. ... -.'••,, --■•.,- • ■.'•.'. ' : To Mr. Tole: Witness had never mentioned to prisoners at that time that MoLeod's shop had been broken into. Witness said that he knew ' both prisoners. He ..saw Piaggi the night before he was arrested, and.the man never men- . tioned then anything about articles he had found. * . y ~; i ,;( ■;■.*.. Reeves addressed the jury briefly. He said no one had been called to swear that Piaggi and he had broken into McLeod's shop, and he did not .see how that charge could be proved. . In answer to a question by a juryman, His Honor said that getting into a, place through a broken window was breaking and entering. t : v '.'■;' After a retirement extending ■'■ over 50 < minutes the jury returned with, a verdict of jmilty against each prisoner. ;'; Both prisoners had long recards of previous convictions. They were ; each sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment with ■ hard labour, and detention for reformative treatment for a period not exceeding years. '; ' ' ' ••