SEQUEL TO BURGLARY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20256, 16 May 1929, Page 11

SEQUEL TO BURGLARY.

A CHARGE OF, ARSON. MANY JURYMEN CHALLENGED. EXHAUSTION OF THE PANEL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. In the Supreme Court four young men appeared to answer charges in connection with a somewhat sensational burglary which took place in a shop at Lower Hutt early on the morning of January 11 last. Thomas Gordon, George Wilfred Ryan, Richard Ryan, and Hewitt Allan Capon were charged with wilfully setting fire to paper, clothing and empty boxes with the object of destroying the shop. George Wilfred Ryan, Richard Ryan, and Hewitt Allan Capon were charged with breaking and entering the shop and stealing cloth and trinkets valued at £147 10s Id. George Wilfred Ryan was charged with receiving goods to the value of £3O 16s Bd, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained, and Richard Ryan with receiving goods to the value of £24 13s Bd, knowing them to have been dishonestly obtained. The charges were heard before the Chief Justice, Hon. M. Myers. The right to challenge was freely exercised, and by the time ten jurors had been obtained the panel had been exhausted, and His Honor directed that the doors of the court should be closed. The registrar then went through the body of the court and obtained more names for the jury list. The new names called were also freely challenged by both sides. Once again the registrar had to do some scouting in the courtroom. One juror was still required, but four further challenges were made before the twelfth man was obtained. No fewer than 23 challenges were issued by counsel for the accused, while 11 persons were asked to stand aside by the Crown Prosecutor. # The Crown Prosecutor said it was alleged that accused broke a fanlight over a door in the shop, and after stealing a quantity of goods set fire to the shop. Gordon had pleaded guilty to breaking, entering and theft, and it could be shown that the shop had been set alight in several different places, the intention being to destroy all evidence of the burglary. Capon had pleaded guilty to receiving, but the Ryans pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and all four denied the charges of arson. The case was adjourned until to-mor-row.