ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7263, 20 October 1910, Page 1

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING

RODE MEN ARRAIGNED CASE IE- THE MAGISTRATE’S ' COURT. '■ Four strongly-built young men, al) well dressed and intelligent looking, who answered to the names of James Vincent Crimmins, John Lewis, Charles V Heston, mid Charles Cunningham, appeared in the dock of the, Magistrate'?. Court yesterday, before Mr W, G. Hid.* dell, S.M., charged on. remand 1 with (1) breaking and entering the house of Mary Spencer in Cambridge teri’aoo-orr October 4th, and stealing, .a.-rolled gold watch, a gold chain with a auatch-box-and goldmounted shark's tooth attached, and 9s. 6d in. cash, to the total value of «£l7 4s Gd, the property of Thomas Davidson; (-) stealing a pair of boots valued.-at 25s belonging to another boardor,. and. (3) at: the same time and place assaulting- uikU robbing Peter Wilson of -€s Gd rn money. Chief-Detective Broberg prosecuted,.Each of' the accused conducted his own case. THE PROSECUTION. Upwards -of a dozen witnesses gave evi- * donee for the prosecution' Their testi- 1 monies went to show that on’ the right in question Thomas Davidson and another boarder /occupied a bed in Mrs Spencer’s front room, while Wilson slept on a sofa in the dining-room. Jnsfci about midnight Wilson was awakened by a blom on the face, and ho felt, someone going through his pockets. 'Ho* exclaim-* ed ,f You need not murder a man; J. have only got Cs 6d, and here it is.”” At this stage one of the boaadors camo on the scone and recognised Cunningham, and Levis, who were leaning- over Wilson, Crimmius and another person, standing back in the rnum. Subsequently. Davidson’s 'property was missed, aa also were the boots belonging to tlxo , other boarder. Th© four accused were ' arrested and identified as the persona who were seen at Mrs Spencer’s house on the night of October.4th. The gold watch and chain and pendants were found in Cunningham’s possession after his arrest. FAMILIAR WITH COURT RUUDS. Each of. the accused in his turn 6Ub» jected the witnesses to a searching cross- , examination. and displayed, a familiarity and knowledge of court procedure like unto trained solicitors. In. , the copfse of cross-examination each of the'accused, put questions to the witnesses which his Worship ruled as irrelevant to tho case, but the accused held that the questions .were important.' They intimated tliutthey intended to prove that they did not break into tho- house, but wont there-; for the purpose of purchasing liquor, which, they alleged, was on. sale at tWpremises on Sundays and. after Kbo’clock each night. • . COAIMITTEDcPOR^rEXAL. All* four accused'* reserved ,their‘-de-fence, and wore committed to*the Su-, premoCourt for trial. Baip.wasAallowc-df £SO. '