SAFE BLOWN OPEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22349, 21 February 1936, Page 16

SAFE BLOWN OPEN

MAN FOUND GUILTY marks on bank notes BURGLARY AT HAMILTON £fbom our own cohrf.spoxdf.nt] HAMILTON, Thursday A verdict of guilty was returned at the Supremo Court, Hamilton, to-day in the case in which Norman Harold McCormick, aged -10, a carpenter, was charged with breaking and entering the store of Wallace Supplies, Limited, Morrinsville, on the night of November 8 1935, and stealing notes, silver and cheques valued at £45. Mr. Justice Callan presided, Mr. H. T. Gillies represented the Crown, and Mr. AN. Noble appeared for accused. Alexander Collins, manager of the store at Morrinsville, gave evidence that on the evening of November 8 the day's takings were locked up in the safe. When he returned early the following morning he found the door of tho safe blown open by explosives. Sacks of sugar and flour had been packed around to deaden the explosion. When the cash was counted it was found to be about £45 short. Ann M. Clark, head cashier at the store, stated that four days after the burglary she was shown a number of £1 notes by the police and was able to identify two of them by distinctive marks. These had been in the cash box, but were missing after tho burglary. Detective A. Moore, of Auckland, gave evidence that ho was on the Auckland railway station in company with two other police officers shortly before 3 p.m. on November 11. He saw accused, who was accompanied by another man and a woman. Witness spoke to them arid took them into the waiting room. Accused's suitcase was examined and the contents included a quantity of silver coins wrapped in pieces of newspaper. Asked where he obtained the silver ? accused had replied that he got it by "raffling his work."

Questioned at the detective office regarding the notes* in his possession, accused said he had won £2O at pakapoo. Accused also stated that lie had never been to Morrinsville.

Questioned by Mr. Noble regarding the money taken from accused at the detective office, witness denied that this was an illegal act. He was acting on information received from another source, and considered ho was perfectly justified. Mr. Noblo did not call evidence, but submitted that the five, witnesses who said they had seen accused in Morrinsville had been mistaken. He also contended that the bank notes referred to in the evidence were not identifiable.

After a retirement of half an hour the jury returned with a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred until to-morrow.