AUCKLAND ROBBERIES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8182, 25 July 1912, Page 1

AUCKLAND ROBBERIES

PAUL SERIN COMMITTED FOB SENTENCE.. _, MUEPHY . SENT UP -FOE, TRIAL. , PRESS-ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, July 24. Paul Eugene Sena ana Eaniei murphy (anas Itey uoids) were this ■ morning at the Police Court charged with having,'on Juno 2am, broken and entered tho ohioo ot tho tireat rvorthern .brewery in KJttyber Pass read with intent to commit a crime. - Cliief-iJuiective .McMahon prosecuted,, and; accused, were not represented hy counsel. Evidence was given by employees of tho Trent door of tne otneo having been found open on the morning of Juno 21st, as ■well as the window of. tho telephoneroom, while the keyhole of tha strongroom was found plugged with gelignite. Detective Powell gave evidence of an interview he and Detective Cummings had with, Murphy on Juno 27rh last, and also as to an interview they had that evening with Serin when they arrested him. Tho latter then said ho had known Murphy in IV ollington. Murphy’s statement was read to him, and he said "It's a lie!” Witness detailed evidence given previously as to the finding of torches, keys, a jemmy, a revolver, and other things in Serin's house. Later that evening Serin made a statement when he was at the detective office, and was arrested.

The statement- made by Murphy was to the effect that/ about sixteen months previously, he had met a man named “Gus” on the Wellington wharf. He had met him since, but did not know his name. . Between 9 and 10 on the morning of the attempt on the safe of the Groat Northern; Brewery he met “Gus” on Queen street wharf. "Gus" asked deponent to meet him at 7.30 that evening at the top of Symonds street remarking, in respect to the safe at the 'Great Northern Brewery, that they would go down and give a crack. They walked .to the brewery and got'in by the office window which was partly open. "Gus" went into the office and lie (Murphy) went and watched. "Gus” had shown him-half, a plug of gelignite, .about a foot of fuse, and a dypamito cap which he had. After being in the office about three-quarters of an hour "Gus” came out,and said the cap was too large. He showed deponent some keys and a jemmy about a foot long. Serin took a car up Khyber Pass, and Murphy walked home. Serin, in his statement* said that he camo from Wellington, in October last. When he met Murphy on the wharf Dio latter said, “How are you doing, Gus?" and asked ,him if ho would take a job, remarking that it was a “tank," meaning a safe. The statement agreed with “Murnhy’s so far as meeting and going to the brewery was concerned, but then they differed. Serin said he had a revolver, cartridges, and' a jemmy -when they entered the office. Murphy pulled some gelignite from his pocket and filled, the keyhole of the safe, and banded Serin, a detonator, but he could not fix it. and becoming afraid they walked out the front dooi. After Detective Cummings lad corroborated the evidence of Directive Powell Serin pleaded "guilty”, and Reynolds ‘‘not guilty.” They were cemmilted to the Supreme Court, the former for sentence and the latter for trial.

BURGLARIES AT GISBORNE. GISBORNE, .fillr 24. At the Mag : strate‘- Cour to-day Arthur Turner pleaded guilty - to a serine of burglaries, and was rtnu.nded to Auci:.iml foi sentence