CHARGE OF BURGLARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19469, 27 October 1926, Page 17

CHARGE OF BURGLARY.

STORE AT BROWN'S BAY. DEFENCE OF ALIBI RAISED. While admitting lie had cashed cheques taken front books stolen with other goods from Brown's Bay post office and store on August 2. Thomas Kelly, labourer (Mr. Bone), whose trial was commenced in the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr. Justice Herdman, denied responsibility for the burglary. The goods missing from the store cornprised a motor-tyre tube, a set of scale weights, two books of cheque-forms and six 'books of cheque-butts, while from the post office a registered parcel of ladies' underwear and a wall-clock were taken. The total value of the stolen property was £6 2s 4d. In addition to burglary accused was charged with fraudulently converting to his use property he knew to bo stolen. Evidence was given in regard to the discovery in accused's house at Brown's Bay of a parcel similar to the one stolen from the store. The clock and scales and other missing property were found in the. scrub alongside the road about half a mile from accused's house. Accused, in evidence, said he arrived in New Zealand in August. 1925. and drew a small farm at Brown's Bay in a soldiers' ballot. He detailed his movements on the days round about the date of tire burglary and denied he had' broken into the store. He found the cheques and the parcel in the scrub alongside the road. There was no address on the parcel. He know the post office and store had been broken into and that cheques were missing, but he denied he heard anything of the theft of the other goods. He took the parcel home and later gave it to his wife, telling her lie had found it. He cashed the cheques when he was " hard up " and when he was under the influence of liquor. He had been afraid to hand over the cheques because he thought he might be charged with the burglary. Accused's wife was giving evidence in support of the alibi when tho Court rose until this morning.