TALK IN THE CELLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21333, 7 November 1932, Page 6

TALK IN THE CELLS

PRISONERS' CONVERSATION constable takes notes BURGLARY CHARGE PROVED ' Evidence of an unusual type—that regarding conversation between accused perin prison cells was given in a trial I in the Supreme Court in Wellington last ® week. Charged with breaking and entering the premises of Lauchlan and Company, Limited, Courtenay Place, about midnight on Sunday, June 26, and stealing jewellery to the value of £317 19s 6d, Edwin George Valentine Roberts, 23, labourer, and Raymond Patrick Letton, 26, labourer, 1 were found guilty by a jury. Letton, 7 who had a bad record of crime, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, and was declared an habitual criminal. with three lesser convictions, was sentenced to 18 months' reformative detention. 0} The burglary was discovered by Mr. John Sheedy, a night-watchman, and the burglars decamped in a hurry, leaving behind them two benzine cases filled with gold bangles, watches, rings, and other jewellery, a half-ton truck, a brace-and-bit and a saw. The trial took place before the Chief Justice, Sir. Michael Myers, and a jury. Both accused were represented by counsel, Roberts by Mr. C. H. Arndt and Letton by Mr. R. H. Boys. The accused were arrested by Deteo tive A. B. Meiklejohn at New Plymouth on June 28. Giving evidence, the detective said that Roberts gave the name of Edward Ryan and lietton that of John Sirag. He knew Roberts as a showman who had previously given the name of McNaughton at New Plymouth. Talk in the Cells Constable W. Butler, of New Plymouth, said that in the course of his Itities he visited the cells when the accused were in custody at New Plymouth. He heard the two men talking, and he took a note of what they said. Letton said: " I am frightened of being charged with breaking and entering. I'll say I met you in Palmerston. If we are taken back to Wellington they will know your coat and you with no hat." He said there were three jobs they could "fit on him," and ; " that if they knew he was the "joker" who was in the jeweller's shop it would go hard. Letton continued: " They arc awake to us. They had been looking for me in Wellington. Our tale is that we have been in Palmerston." Roberts- said: " Watchman on the jewellery job can identify us, coat and gloves, and me with no coat. We are gone. The only way you can dodge is for you to stop here— I don't think." Letton said: "Pawnbroker can identify coat from Schneideman's. 'Demon' (meaning detective) came to boarding-house looking for me, and the girl hid me in a room. It will go against me." The two accused then spoke about having told lies. A Second Conversation ' About three hours later, said Constable Butler, he heard a second conversation. Letton opened the conversation and Roberts said: " Don't talk too much. If I had not met you in the 'pub' in Wellington we would not have been here today, if things went well Sunday night. It did not work out too well. I thought it was too easy. Shut up, and don't say a word." Letton said: "I would not sign a statement. Do you think we will get picked on the Wellington job ? I told him that you wore the gloves." Roberts said: "He asked me about Schneideman's. I think they might miss one of us." Letton said: "We should have gone to Auckland. I wonder if 'Tubby' said anything. 'Tubby' was first .in and 'Tubby' talked too much." Roberts said: " They must know something against us. Smith must have talked.'* Letton said: " They put it on me about the ' Chow* job." Roberts: " Smith might have opened his mouth. I know 'Tubby' talked too much." Letton: "If thev have the two of us together they might identify us,' 5 Letton's Correct "Pick" Roberts then said i —" We got to stick to it that we went to bed early Sunday. Do you think the old 'sheila' at the boarding-house will stick to us?" Letton: " All they got on me is that I pawned the coat. One of us will miss. I pick we will get three years. We will be in time for Court." Roberts said to Letton, although witness had no note of it: "How about saying we were with that 'sheila* of yours at the ." Letton replied: "We can't do that. It will get her into trouble. They came there once looking for me and she hid me away." The Chief Justice, in summing xip, said; there was nothing improper in what thfl constable did, and while it was not claimed that it was a verbatim report, it was held to be substantially accurate. The jury was absent for a little over two hours. A long list of convictions was recorded against Letton in Australia and New Zealand. When sentenced he appealed for another. chance, but His Honor said prisoner would be in the bands of the Prisons Board, and if he showed signs of reforming he would no doubt get consideration.