BURGLARY ADMITTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21507, 2 June 1933, Page 12

BURGLARY ADMITTED

TWO IYOUNG FISHERMEN

POST OFFICE SAFE IN CAR UNABLE TO START ENGINE [BY TEI.KfittAPH —OWN CORKrSFONDrcNT] WHANGAHEI, Thursday After evidence had been hoard before justices iu the Whangarei Police Court to-day, charges of breaking anil entering the post office at Huakaka on May 24 and stealing a safe containing money, a cash box and a fountain pen, to a total value of £IOO, were admitted by IJobert. Frcebairn, aged 23 years, single, and Douglas Aubrey Sadgrove, aged 22 years, single, both fishermen.

Alice Catherine Allison, assistant postmistress at Puakaka, said that when the office was closed on May 23 everything was secure. Early nc.t- morning witness received a 'message and with her brother went to tho offico. There was a car outside. The accused Freebairn was with tho car and the safe from the office was in the front, seat. Frcebairn told witness he had intended to telephono the police himself, but seeing the switch in tho office he thought it was a party lino and did not do so. Everything in Safe Intact

Witness said she remembered seeing Frcebairn with the car tho previous day. He had then had a mate with him whom witness identified as the other accused, Sadgrove. Witness told Freebairn that some loose silver had been taken from the office, but ho said it had not been taken by Sadgrove, but by some other men on a motor-cycle. When the constable arrived the safe was returned to the ofheo. Frcebairn said there was something wrong with the car and it would not go. Everything in the safo was intact. Tho safe and contents were worth £l3l. Detective J. Hayes, of Auckland, said that on May 29 he interviewed Sadgrove in Auckland. Accused made a statement and was subsequently charged with tho offence. He gave the police every assistance in clearing the matter np. In his statement Sadgrove said that Freebairn suggested,that they go for a ride from Auckland and break into the post office at Kuakaka. About 2 a.m. on May 24 they forced the post office door open with two tyro levers and removed tho safe. Then they could not get the car started. Freebairn suggested that Sadgrove leave while' lie stayed with the car. Story of Two Other Men

Freebairn (to Detective Hayes) : Did you warn Sadgroro that the statement would b6 used in evidence against him ? Witness: No. When the statement was being taken he was interviewed as a suspect. Detective-Sergeant Kobertson produced a statement made by Freebairn, who said ho and Sadgrovo left Auckland to seo a little of the north. Ho met two men on a motor-cycle, who put up a proposition to him to "carry a baby" from Ruakaka to the Waipu Gorge and they would make £lO for him. Freebairn said he left Sadgnv. e looking for benzine and went on into Whangarci. He returned to Ruakaka later after a tiff ivith the other two members.

According to his statement, Freebairn realised ho was trickod by them and decided to "get it back" on them by driving the safe and one of them into the police station at Waipu. Unfortunately, however, as ho was backing out tho car refused to go. /fhe other two left for Whangarei and Freebairn went into the office to ring tho police, but not understanding the mechanism of the exchange, did not do so. He waited until morning and then sent for the postmistress. Only the Accused Involved

"I saw Freebairn and told him I had made inquiries for two men on a motorcycle," said the detective-sergeant, "and told him thero was no evidence of these two men being connected with the affair, but that it was his mate Sadgrovo who had returned to Auckland who was in the job with him." Later, said witness, Freebairn made another statement, in which ho said no one but he and Sadgrovo had anything to do with the breaking and entering the post office. They started to leave but he could not got the car started and he told Sadgrovo to get out of it. He intended to stay and give himself U P- ...

Witness said he was sure Sadgrove would not have been in trouble had he not been gradually persuaded by Freebairn to join. Both accused pleaded guilty and wero committed to the Supremo Cour/ for sentence.