BAGGING THE BOOZE?

NZ Truth, Issue 868, 15 July 1922, Page 6

BAGGING THE BOOZE?

A Daring Raid

Two well-built men, Michael Gjerstedt and Thomas Edward Barron, were brought, before Magistrate Poynton at Auckland, on Thursday of last week and charged with breaking and entering the Aurora Hotel on the night of June 19 and stealing liquor valued at £32 4s sd. Barron was. also charged with having received brandy valued at £1 Is. , Chief-Det. Mcllveney prosecuted,, Mr. McLiver appearing for Barron and -Mr. Wallace for Gjerstedt.

Samuel O. Dickson said that he was manager of the Aurora Hotel and at 10 p.m.- on the night of June 14 ihe went to the cellar and found that the padlock had been . broken and an entrance effected. An examination showed that two cases of brandy, a case of whisky, and thirteen bottles of champagne had been stolen, while a barrel containing port wine had been capsized and the contents spilled.

Ernest J. Howard said that he was living at the ' hotel, and on June 19 about 9.45 p.m., he gaw two men leaving the .hotel, one of whom was carrying a case on his shoulder and the other a hamper. Witness then went round to the back of the hotel .and there saw a man m a light overcoat coming from the cellar. The man asked if he could get a drink, and when witness replied m the negative the ohap cleared away. A little after witness saw two men and he followed them to a section at the back of the City Hotel, • where another man joined them. . Returning to the hotel witness 'phoned the police, and when Constable Rimmer arrived they went to the section. . He could not identify the accused as tihe men he saw that night.

Constable Rimmer said that when he went to the. section -he -heard a noise; and on looking behind a pile of timber he saw two. men taking bottles from a case and placing them m saoks. Witness grabbed one of the men, who proved to be Gerjstedt, but the other man, Barron, broke away and escaped. Later Barron was arrested, and m his possession was found three flasks of brandy.' Witness remarked to Barron, "You are bowled out," and Barron laughed. A case 6i brandy was found on the section where Gerjstedt was arrested.

The accused reserved their defence, pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial. '