VALOROUS VARLEY

NZ Truth, Issue 510, 27 March 1915, Page 4

VALOROUS VARLEY

MIDNIGHT SHOOTING IN DOMINION-ROAD

TWO BUSY, BOLD, BAD, BURGLAR BOYS

Accused Youths Give their Version of the Sensation

The two youths, Eric Streat (17), who was arrested under somewhat sensational circumstances at Kingsland just after midnight on March 11, and Selwyn Hodges (18), were brought before Mr. B. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Auckland Magistrate's Court, on Thursday, 1 18 th inst. Streat is a fairly tall, thin youth, Inclined to be fair, while Hodgea is short and thick-set with dark hair and much shrewder looking eyes. Against each of the accused were SEVEN CHARGES OF BURGLARY as per list: About March 7, breaking and entering the , premises of Sydney James Jackson Connelly and steal-

ing one pair leggings, 1 pair spurs, 4 bicycle rubber ihflators, 1 motor horn, 1 pair bicycle pedals, 1 bicycle chain, of a total value of £2. About March 4, they did attempt : to break and enter the shop of William Arthur Mansell with Intent to commit a crime. On or about February 15, did bre.ak and raid the Home and Colonial Stores, stealing a ham valued at 12/6. On or about February 10, did break and enter the shop of Merson ' Bros, and steal five revolvers and 400 ball cartridges, valued at about ■'■ £8. ' ' On or about February 3, did break and enter the shop df John George a'^indlay and steal a Big Ben clock, 'valued at 12/6. On or abput March 10, did break and enter the Edendale school and steal- one Yale lock, a number of keys and 4/- m money, the total value of £2. 6/-. On March 11. did break and enter the shop of Edwin Varley with intent to commit a crime therein. On March 11, did break and enter the shop of Mil Ham J. Ashby and steal 4/10 m money. Chief Detective McMahon prosecuted and Lawyer- Lundon appeared for the accused. John George Findlay, butcher m Edendale-road, said he locked up his shop about 6 p.m. on February 3, and on returning next morning about 6 a.m. ' found that the wire gauge had been torn oft a door and a "Big Ben*' clock, valued 12/6 was missing., An attempt also had been made to open the till. John Edward Merson, cycle agent m Symonds-street, said he left his shop on February 10 with everything apparently secured. FflOM SOMETHING HE HEARD he went to tho shop next morning and found that It had boon entered by the breaking of a window and the catch lifted. From the shop about six rovolr vers wero missing and 400 ball cartridges,. The revolvers and ammunition ! (produced) werq similar to those missIng. An attempt had been made to open the safe. The value of the missing goods would be about £8 or £9. Tho accused Hodges was formerly employed at the shop.

Charles Potter, manager of tho Homo and Colonial Stores, Domlnlon-road. said on the morning 1 of February 10 ho found that the shop had been broken into by way of a window. Tho front door was also open and tho safe shifted. A ham valued at 12/6 was missing.

Lewis Geo. Shepherd, manager for W. A. Mansell, boot manufacturer. Now North-road, said on March 5, when he went to the shop he saw a block of wood m the yard near a -window which had been broken, but no entrance had been made, because the saah of the window was nailed instead of being fastened with a catch.

Nellie Stalnton, assistant In the Bhop of 11. J. Ashby, baker, Dominion-road, said she left the shop on February 10, leaving 10/- In the till.

lJiwyor Lundon: Are you sure of the amount, as these young fellows soy there was only -1/10 m tho till?— I left 10s OVid m it.

Maria Moran, also an assistant m the shop with the last witness, said there was no money m tho till on February 11 when she visited the shop.

Edwin Varley, grocer m Dominionroad, said the shop was a lock-up one, and he slept on the premises on March 10. About midnight ho heard tho sound of a bell m Mr. Ashby's shop next door, so pot out of bed and prepared for anyone whom might enter the shop, also

TAKING A LOADED REVOLVER from a co.it pocket. There was a contrivance attached to the door so that the bolt could not be worked and no one could get In without waking him, ns there was n tin placed behind tho door, but on hearing the tinkling of tho bell next door and a sound of gome one trying to open tho front door of his own shop ho then removod the obstacle from the door, and almost immediately tho look turned and two men came m. "I called out 'Hands up,'" continued witness, and one of them put the flashlight on mo. They hiul something In tliolr handts which I took to be a revolver. I mude a little noise and then drew my revolver and fired. Both men then rnn away, Streat w«i» ono of them. I Immediately followed

and, after running a little way, Streat gave m and I took him to the Mt Roskill Police Station. I cannot say what became of the other man except that I saw him running away. When I got to the station I knew that Streat had a loaded revolver. I knew Streat was shot m the arm when he surrendered. Lawyer Lundon: Don't you know that the flash is out of commission and won't work?— Well, if you say so, allright. Isn't it a fact that this statement about the flash is pure imagination, and that It was an excuse for you firing the revolver? — No. Now, these young men alleged that they had no chance of crossing the doorstep? — They did: Now, juat tell me what you did when you heard the key being inserted m the lock?r— When I heard that I removed the tin and set the bolt free SO THAT THE DOOR COULD BE OPENED. I then slipped five or six yards back to, the far end of the counter. Now, isn't it a fact that you opened the door yourself? — No, who told you that? Now, isn't it a fact that as soon as the door opened you blazed away? — I did not. Well, now, when the door opened who came m first ?-^Streat. Who opened the door? — From what I gathered afterwards^ Streat. Streat came m first? — Yes and was followed by a short man. Which man had a key m his hand ? — I don't know that either of themdid. Doesn't that suggest that you opened the door yourself ?— No, I did not. Where were they when you said "Hands up," that is if you said it at all?— Streat was about two yards m

the shop, and the other man behind him. Which of them had the flashlight?— I don't know which one. Surely you can say which one flashed the light on you, although I tell you there was never any flashlight and could not have been? — I think it was the short man. Did you see a revolver m tho hand of either man? — I won't swear that they had a revolver, but this I will swear, that one of them had something which I THOUGHT WAS A REVOLVER. The men came into the shop and when tho light was flashed on me I fired. Casper Semadeni, headmaster of the Edendale School, said he left everything Becure m the school on Friday, February 19. On the following Monday ho found the lock had been forced off and afterwards discovered that 10/---had been taken from a cupboard. A lot of keys wore missing and a showcase broken and coins taken from It. Adrian Manfred Rowc, assistant master of the Edendnlo School, said between February 19 and 22 a sum of 17/- was taken from a drawer. Sydney James Jackson Connolly, saddler, Now North-road, said on March I 8 he found tho premises had been cnj tcred, An examination showed that n pair of leggings, '2 pairs of «purs, 1 motor-bike horn. 1 pair of pedals, a bicycle driving-chain and 2 bicycle rub-

j ber inflators were missing. The lot was valued at £2. Constable Charles Grey, stationed at Mt. Roskill, said that about 12.20 a.m., on March 11, the witness Varley ; brought Streat to the station. Varley stating that he had caught Streat breaking into the shop and had shot him. Streat was m a state of collapse. Varley -was a bit agitated as he thought he might have seriously injured Streat. Questioned, Streat said he carried a revolver, and witness searched his pockets, finding a loaded weapon, some keys, and a flashlight which Streat said was broken. STREAT WAS SHOT IN THE ARM, a doctor was sent for. In witness's office Streat took G/4 from his pocket, saying that with the exception of 1/6 which he had previously, the 4/10 was his share of the proceeds from Ashby's shop. From something he heard witness questioned Streat about another revolver and the accused said he had another one m a pocket. Accused was then taken to the central police station. Later, with Detective Hammond he visited Streat's room and found a clock and some ammunition, and later on was present with Detectives Hammand and Quartermain when Hodges was arrested. In Hodges' workshop were found the Yale lock, some keys and halfpennies. Detective Arthur Quartermain said: On the 11th of this month I saw Streat at the watch-house. I spoke to him about the charges. He expressed a wish to make a free confession of the whole matter, and the statement (produced) waß taken down m writing and signed. Subsequently, Hodges was arrested. He said he had read the account of the robbery m the newspapers and said it was greatly exaggerated. When taken to the station and Bhown the statement made by Streat, Hodges said it was quite true. Streat when asked if he had anything to say, said: Mr. Varley's account is all wrong. We used no flashlight and never stepped inside the shop; we did not hava time to. Hodges opened the door with a key and I pushed it with my hand. The door opened about throe feet and Varley. fired, at the same time SAYING "HANDS UP" and shooting me m the right arm. Proof of that can be supplied by the way the b.ullet went through my arm. We then ran from the building. Hodges running up the road, while I ran opposite the shop. My arm dropped by my side, and not being able to run, Varley ran up and covered me with a revolver. That's all. Hodges then said: I wish to state that Mr. Varley's statement is incorrect. About midnight on- the night Streat was arrested we stepped into the recess m front of Varley's doorway. I was on the right-hand Bide of Streat. I put a key m the door and it wouldn't wprk. I was m the act of withdrawing the key when the door opened suddenly and a revolver flashed across m front of me, we then turned and ran and tho key came out m my hand. I just want to add, we did not step into the shop at all, and no light was flashed. That's all. ' When asked to plead, both Streat and Hodges formally pleaded guilty to all charges. BEFORE THE JUDGE. On Monday the two youthful accused came up before his Honor, Mr. Justice Hosking at tho Auckland Supreme Court for sentence. Lawyer Lundon, who appeared for both m the Lower Court, was only battling for Streat on Monday. "Costs" said that Streat was just 17 years of age. but had given his ago as 20 m order that he might get more tobacco. His Honor: Umphm, he gave a wrong age m order to got more tobacco. Lawyer Lundon went on to say that Streat was born m Auckland and had never been m any trouble before. His parents had never hod any trouble with him except that the accused had mado it plain to them that he wished to

follow the sea. After leaving school Streat worked at a tcashop, then associated himself with the hardware line, and then went into tho employ of a bookseller. Next ho went to soa on different ships, but the life was evidently not Jimt what !><> expected and he gave up (he seafaring life and wont to work for a butcher. Streat was not a strong-willed lad and COULD BE KASHA' LED. Both lads wished it suited that the evidence given m tho Magistrate's Court In regard to tho manner m which they were arrested, wa« BiibnUntlnlly correct. Hodges was much the shrewder of tho pnlr, and, no doubt, his was tho muster mind. His Honor: I don't know how I can come to that conclusion. Streat must I havo known what ho was doing when thoy decided the places to bo visited. He also must havo known that his companion had a revolver and ammunition. Mr. Lundon suid ho had conversed with Streat and formed the conclusion that ho was very easily led. His Honor: Of course you know, Mr. Lundon, that one object of tho punishment Is to prevent thorn* who have weak wills from preying upon society. Mr. Lundon said Hodges had nn m- ; vontlvo mind, and, for some time pa«t, > hud been busy with nu Invention which had something to do with tho speed of a motor cycle. Thoy had the Idea that they would have to got money to carry on tho work connected with the Invention. With regard to tho night of tho arrest — - His Honor: 1 don't think you need comment upon that. Mr. Lundon. , Lawyer Lundon then went on to «ay