BURGLARY CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20293, 28 June 1929, Page 14

BURGLARY CHARGES.

THREE MEN PLEAD GUILTY.

THEFTS FROM SIX HOUSES.

NIUE ISLANDER'S OFFENCES. A number of burglaries in the suburban and outer areas of the city was cleared up in tho Police Court yesterday whon three men admitted entering and theft at six different houses. All pleaded guilty, and they wero committed to tho Supremo Court for sentence.

The first caso was that of Jack Hopo, a ' Niuo Islander, charged with stealing £l2 in monoy from tho dwelling of Arthur Wilton Williams at Whitfovd on May 29, and with breaking and entering tho house of Ernest Alexander Michio at Howiclc on June 10 and stealing a portable gramophone and other goods of a total value of £l2.

Michie said he had a summer cottage at Howiclc, which he left on June 9, locking and securing all tho windows and doors. On his return six days later ho found that the cottage had been entered by breaking a window pane. Ho identified articles produced in Court as having been stolen from tho cottage. Williams, a farmer at Whitford, said that on May 29 ho loft tho sum of £l2 in his trousers, hanging in tho house. That day ho saw accused, who knew the run of tho house, in the neighbourhood. Acting-Detective Mills stated that he interviewed accused, who admitted both offences. Ho also informed witness where tho stolen property was to be found, and witness recovered it at accused's home at East Tamald. " Did It in Desperation." Charges of breaking and entering the dwelling of Arthur William Dicks, in Western Springs Road, and stealing 35s on January 26, and of breaking and entering tho house of Muriel Lilly Richards, at Drydon Street, 3rey Lynn, on May 23, wero preferred against Ivan Major Martin llling.

Mrs. Richards said that when she returned to her home on May 23 after being out for somo hours she found that the house, which had been locked, had bqen entered and ransacked. Nothing had been stolen. She had loft no money in the house.

Arthur William Dicks said that he could not definitely state how his house had been entered. The rooms were in a state of chaos, while about 35s had been stolen. Detective Allen said that accused was arrested by the Christchurch police on June 17 on a warrant issued in Auckland. On June 20 he made a statement in his own writing that ho broke into Mrs. Richards' home. On the following day when interviewed about the other offence he admitted that burglary also in a statement in his own writing. " I did it in sheer desperation; I am married, with one child, and could not get anything to eat," accused said. Found Hiding in Church.

Tho third man was Walter Hunter, a Maori, aged 32, admitted breaking and entering St. Mary's Cathedral with intent to commit a crime, and breaking and entering the home of George Tanner, at 29, Wallace Street, Heme Bay, and stealing £l3 in money and three tramway concession-cards. ; - - '

The caretaker of St. Mary's Cathedral said that : ho heard a noise at the rear of the church, and on investigating found accused secreted there bending over the collection-box. Witness followed and interrogated the accusod, whom he had seen in the church on a previous occasion. On that occasion the collection-box was found to have been opened. The loss of £l3 in notes and three tramway concession cards was described by Tanner, who said that on his return home he found fliat a door and window in tho house, which had been locked, were open, while the rooms had been searched.

Detective Hunt said that he questioned accused regarding the thefts, which accused admitted. He searched accused's rooms, and found a screw-driver which fitted the marks on the window of the house in Wallace Street. Accused admitted that tho screw-driver was used to open the window, while ho also admitted that a concession card in his possession was one of the stolen cards.