A SACK OF SUGAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10898, 12 May 1921, Page 6

A SACK OF SUGAR

NIGHT PROWLER AND POLICE. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. A nocturnal visit to a sugar store resulted in George Newton being charged before Mr FT K. Hunt, S.M., yesterday- with having entered the premises of the Phoenix Aerated Water Company on May sth with intent to commit a crime. Chief-Detective Ward conducted the case for the prosecution and Mr B. E. Leicester appeared for Chief-Detective W ard stated that Newton was seen to climb over the wall, and also on the premises. On knowing himself seen he decamped, and was apprehended -and a half-bag of sugar was found on the floor. Kenneth Hobson, cordial maker in the employ of the Phoenix Aerated Water Co-, said that at 7 p.m. on May 6th, in consequence of happenings in the warehouse, he was watching the premises from the Hotel Cecil corner. Shortly after 7 o’clock he saw a man climbing the galvanised iron gate into tlie premises. He went to Mnlgrave street and looked in a window, which gave him a view of the sugar store. He saw accused within looking directly at him. Newton was an ex-em-ployee well-known to witness, and was then near a bin in which sugar was kept. Knowing that he was seen, accused beat a retreat, and just then Mr Best, the foreman, came up the street and witness communicated these happenings to him. Acting on instructions witness went for the police and returned with a constable. On returning they saw accused coming from th© galvanised iron gate and the ©unstable thereupon took charge of him. Witpess was himself in charge of the sugar room and when leaving the premises that night there had been no half-bags of sugar on the floor, but some loose sugar in the ban. On examination the bin was found to be almost emptied and a half-bag of sugar stood near it. Albert’ William Best, foreman of tho Phoenix factory, gave corroborative evidence. When arrested accused had denied' having been on the premises. He was perfectly sober, was quit© normal, though he seemed dazed. “I suppose he had the ‘wind up’,” interposed the magistrate. Accused had ceased to he employed by the firm in November last. Constable Audley and Acting-Detec-tive Rewell also gave evidence. Acoused, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, and on the application, of counsel, bail was renewed until his appearance theqe is required.