HATAITAI BURGLARY

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12197, 23 July 1925, Page 4

HATAITAI BURGLARY

MURPHY BEFORE COURT BEDROOM ENTERED: RINGS STOLEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Consequent upon the recent burglary episode occurring at Hataitai on July 6th, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., George Frederick Murphy, a salesman, of Maori extraction, aged 30 years, was charged with breaking and entering by day the residence of Mrs May Millar, of Hataitai. and stealing therefrom two rings, valued at £SO. The police case was conducted by Senior-Sergeant. Cameron. In giving evidence, Mrs M. Millar stated that upon returning to her home at 72, Waipapa road, late upon the afternoon of July 6th she' discovered that two drawers in her bedroom had been rifled and two rings stolen from a jewel box. Walter Edward Chisholm deposed that while passing Mrs Millar’s residence on the afternoon in question lie observed the accused Murphy, near one of the windows of Mrs Millar’s premises, and upon investigation found him creeping about inside the house. Witness straightaway secured assistance, attempting to capture the accused, who‘effected his escape by jumping over the fence of the adjoining property. Evidence as to the struggle occurring at the time of Murphy’s attempted capture was given by Alfred Fortune and Arthur Avery. RING FOUND ON LAWN Rupert Cecil Wood, next-door neighbour to Mrs Millar, deposed to having subsequently upon July loth discovered a ring belonging to Mrs Millar on his front lawn. Evidence as to having seen the accused near the vicinity of Hataitai road, a little prior to the time of the burglary, was given by William Dickson Kerr, a oity postman. Detective McLennan stated that when arrested at Carterton on July 15th Murphy admitted being in the vicinity of Mrs Millar’s premises, but denied all knowledge concerning the theft of the rings. Murphy, who was represented by Mr A. B. Sievwright, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. An application for bail was refused.