WAHAROA BURGLARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 16

WAHAROA BURGLARY

HOODS AND MONEY TAKEN THREE MEN'S GUILT ONE ADMITS OFFENCE [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday Three young men, Ernest Edwin Newton (Mr. Seymour), Don Redolph Melhose and Graham Wilfred Morton (Mr. Kingsford) wore jointly tried before Mr. Justice Callan in the "Supremo Court to-day on a charge of breaking into a shop at Wnharoa on May 10, and stealing goods and money, of a total value of about £l4, the property of Benjamin Tanner. Melhose pleaded guilty and was removed from the dock. Morton and Newton pleaded not guilty. Mr. 11. T. Gillies appeared for the Crown. Both defending counsel were assigned by the Crown. Tile stolen goods, which were exhibited in Court, included razors, tobacco, cigarettes, matches, a variety of hairdressers' requisites, a cheque book and a filled-in cheque. Benjamin Tanner, hairdresser and tobacconist, Waharoa, gave evidence as to finding that his shop had been entered. An effort had been made to prize open the front door with an iron instrument, and the back door was opened. Witness identified the articles in Court as having come from his shop. M. Anthony, Auckland, manager of a motor-car rental firm, gave evidence of having hired a motor-car to Morton on May 14. Tho car was not returned after the period of hire had expired and was recovered from a city garage. It was not possible to give the complete distance covered, as the speedometer had been disconnected after the vehicle had been driven 160 miles. Evidence o! Detective

Leslie William Sampson, taxi driver, said that on the night of May 15 he had seen the three accused having supper in a cafe at Frankton. Melhose and Morton wero previously known to him. Hazel Bryce, Waharoa, stated that early on the morning of August 16 she saw a car proceeding through the town without lights. It contained three men and she last saw them in the vicinity of Mr. Tanner's shop. Detective A. T. Gillum said that, accompanied by another detective, he called at an apartment house in Auckland and found the three accused with their luggage packed and ready to leave. Newton attempted to conceal under a mattress the cheque book which was produced in Court. In an interview at the detective office witness obtained information which caused him to search a vacant section in Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, for detonators, fuses and gelignite. This search was without result, but a detonator was found in the grass near the apartment house where the accused were staying. A jemmy was also found in a garage near by. Verdict ol Guilty No evidence was called for the defen co. In addressing the jury Mr. Seymour said that there was no evidence to show that Newton was nearer to Waharoa than Frankton, which was 40 miles distant from the scene of the burglary. A further point was that Newton was a stranger to the witness who said he had seen the three accused in the cafe at Frankton, and that on that account a mistake in identity was likely to occur. On behalf of the accused Morton, Mr. Kingsford said that there was conflicting evidence as to the type of car used. Although a large quantity of property was stolen, Morton had in his possession only a razor, a tube of shaving cream and some sweets. Jn summing up His Honor directed the jury regarding their attitude toward the fact that one of the accused, Melhose, had pleaded guilty. Ho said that this admission concerned Melhose only, and should not influence the jury in coming to its decision regarding the other two. After a retirement of nearly an hour the jury found both accused guilty. Sentence was deferred until Thursday. ROBBERY AT OHAUPO TWO YOUNG MEN ON TRIAL [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON. Tuesday Charges of breaking into the premises of the Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company, Limited, Ohaupo, on July 14, and stealing goods valued at £7O, were preferred against John Henry Wilson, aged 23, and Leslie Jack Davis, aged 25, in the Supreme Court to-day. An alternative charge was preferred of being iin possession of the stolen goods. Both the accused pleaded not guilty. Mr. H. C. M. Norris was assigned by the Crown to represent Davis, Wilson being without counsel. Mr. H. T. Gillies conducted the case for the Crown. Included in the goods exhibited in Court were clothing, a cow cover, shoes, soap, a leather overcoat and a number of sacks. Alec Leslie Nicholson, manager for the Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company at Ohaupo, described finding the stoxe in a state of confusion following the night of the burglary. A window in the main office had been forced and entry had apparently been made by tjiis means. Witness identified a large quantity of property exhibited in Court as part of the stock from the store. At this stage the trial was adjourned until to-morrow.