BURGLAR IN THEATRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25286, 21 August 1945, Page 7

BURGLAR IN THEATRE

EARDY MORNING ARREST CHARGES ADMITTED How the accused was arrested as he was leaving the Victoria Theatre. Devonport, in the early hours of,-the morning was described by a constable when Edward Kent Murtagh, aged 27. labourer, appealed before Mr S. L. Goodall, S.M., yesterday, on six charges of breaking and entering and theft, one of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, one of attempted breaking and entering and one of theft. Mr Wills represented accused, who pleaded guilty. Senior-Detective Trethewey prosecuted. Constable Power, of Devonport, said he was passing the Victoria Theatre about 4.15 a.m. on August 3 when he heard a tapping sound and saw a light flashing through an upstairs window of the theatre. He found the padlock on the front door of the building had been broken and there was a large hole in the plate-glass. He called for the assistance of Constables McDonald and White. While Constable White went to the back exit, witness and Constable McDonald took up positions on either side of the front door. Accused came out of the building about 4.30 a.m. and was arrested. In his possession he had over £3 and parcels containing tools belonging to the theatre. In a statement admitting all the charges, accused said that, after leaving his employment, he decided to_ go to the North Shore and break into some place to get money. He had got into debt through gambling. Detective Butler said accused had given every assistance in clearing up all the other offences for which he had not been under suspicion. Accused was committed to the Supromo Court for sentence. THEFTS FRO'M EMPLOYER ELECTRICIAN CHARGED A charge of stealing electrical equipment and fittings valued at about £133, the property of his employer, was preferred against Richard Dcnvent Hollingsworth, aged 21, electrician (Mr Fortune), before Mr S. I. Goodall, S.M., yesterday. Senior-Detective Trethewey prosecuted. In a statement, accused said he was a foreman electrician employed by Albert Edward Ruffles. At the beginning of this year he decided to start spare-time electrical contracting in order to make some extra monoy to furnish his home and ultimately to purchase a home. At first he purchased his own materials, but later began taking them from his employer's workshop without paying for them. The equipment was installed in buildings and houses on which ho had undertaken contracts. "I now realise the foolish thing I have done and I am willing to make restitution for the amount of the materials involved," he concluded. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being renewed. MAORIS AND BORSTAL "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" "Maoris look upon a Borstal institution a,s a home away from home and accused does not appear to mind going back there," said the probation officer, Mr C. E. Maxted, when George Taylor, aged 19, factory hand, appeared before Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., yesterday on seven charges of theft and one of unlawfully wearing portions of a United States naval uniform. Accused pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Sparks said accused was released from the Invereargill Borstal institution on July 12 and was on parole. Most of the property he had stolen belonged to employees at a dairy factory where he had worked. When arrested he was wearing a United States pea-jacket and naval hat. Accused, who said he was not anxious to go back to Borstal, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.