RUINED JEWELLERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20105, 16 November 1928, Page 15

RUINED JEWELLERY.

SEQUEL TO CITY BURGLARY.

YOUNG MECHANIC CHARGED.

MAGISTRATE REFUSES BAIL. Ruined jewellery, onco valued at £l2O, but now worth only its metal value, was strewn on a table before tho presiding magistrate in tho Polico Court yesterday when Cecil Francis Hunt, aged 24, a mechanic, denied a charge of having broken and entered tho shop of Meltzer Bros., pawnbrokers, Victoria Street, city, on tho night of June 25, and stolen jewellery, prismatic glasses and a violin. Entrance Lad been gained to the establishment by an intruder removing portion of tho roof and descending into tho shop through a manhole. Over £2OO worth of goods were stolen.

Detective O'Sullivan arrested Hunt three weeks ago and charged him with the offence. According to the detective accused said ho had hidden tho jewellery at YVaitakere. Mud and rust encrusted the articles exhibited in Court.

Evidence given by Morris Kissin, a pawnbroker, of Hobson Street, was to tho effect that he had been told Hunt had some jewellery to dispose of, and by arrangement he had gone to a house in New Lynn. There ho viowed a small sugar sack of articles, wet and muddy, and ho offered Hunt £7 10s for them. Tho offer'was accepted. Arrest oi the-Accused.

Detective O'Sullivan said Fie arrested accused in the house just after Kissin left the gate with the jewellery in his hand. Most of it was in a suitcase, and some in a sack. Witness told Hunt the jewellery had been stolen from Meltzer's and that he had traced it to accused. lie asked Hunt to account for its presence; and accused replied: "That is my corner of it." Asked where ho had kept the jewellery, Hunt said he "had it planted" in the Waitakeres, and that he had gone out that morning and brought it to the house in New Lynn. He stated the jewellery had been sealed in a kerosene tin and that the water must have got into it. No one in the house was aware Hunt had the stuff.

Counsel for accused, Mr. Marchand, cross-examining: Look, detective, just tell ino how and why you suspected my man ? Tho Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt: I have been very patient up until now, but you are asking questions that will hang your client. "But, sir, I only want to get at the facts," said counsel.

Tho Magistrate: Facts! You do not want to get damning facts from any witness. But if your client gets an extra 12 months lie will have you to thank for it. You are getting the evidence, so go on. Plea of Not Guilty.

Chief-Detective Hnmmond: He has asked for it now and the detective will tell him the whole of the facts.

Continuing, Detective O'Sullivan said on the night the burglary was committed accused booked at .1 nearby hotel at 11.30 p.m., when he was carrying two suitcases, which he took away early next morning. "We suspected accused of this burglary as on a previous occasion he had broken into Hugh Wright's establishment in Queen Street," sai l Detective O'Sullivan. "He took part of the roof off that shop and entereil by tho skylight. We knew he was not working and was about town." Hunt, had served a sentence of three months for vagrancy and after his release ho consorted with thieves and had been about the city until he was arrested on the present charge. The magistrate to counsel: See what your questions have done now. Counsel: I only wanted to get the facts. I did not want him <0 sav all that.

The Magistrate: Perhaps you did not. But you asked him a question and he was bound to answer Now the facts will be broadcast with yoar client's record. And he has vet to stand his trial.

Having pleaded not guilty accused was committed 1o the Supreme Court for trial. Mr. Marchand: May the prisoner have bail ?

"Bail," ejaculated the magistrate. "You havo caused the'detective to tell rno all about this man and now you ask for bail. You have shown me he is a dangerous man with a past record and he should not be out on hail. Bail is refused."