ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10592, 22 October 1910, Page 4

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Before Messrs Norton Francis and "William Henry Beckett, J.'sP.y at Wainiate yesterday, John Park was charged ; with on or about June 20, 1910, at Gleiiavy breaking and entering by day the railway station and stealing therefrom the suni of £ls, the property of the New Zealand Government. Sub-Inspector Green conducted the prosecution and Mr Lee appeared for tho defence. John Harold White, stationmastcr and postmaster at Glenavy, said that on June 20 the auditor Was at Glenavy inspecting the postal accounts. Re certified that all the cash and accounts were correqt, and placed notes and cheques: in the cash box and silver and gold in the cash tray, which was kept separate. This was between four and five o'clock. The auditor left first and witness followed, leaving the cash box on the office table, but locking up the [ cash tray and book. There was no loci; ; "on the cash box. Witness locked the office door and was absent about threequarters of an hour. When he returned; the office appeared the same as when he: had left it. Ho placed the cash; box in the safe without cheeking it again, so it'was not till the next day that he found a shortage of £ls. A: ten-pound note was missing, also either: a >£s or five £1 notes. The only way: in which the money could have been taken was by someone entering the office using a key .to fit the door, and the only opportunity for this was while witaess was "absent at tea. Witness knew accused, who resided near the station, and very often came across either on business or to kill time. Accused was

ill a position to know witness' habits at the railway office. About a month ago witness asked accused where lie got the key, meaning the key which admitted him to witness' office. Accused replied that he had had it a long time, having got it from a cadet so as to take a bicycle out of the postal lobby. Witness was not aware that there had been a bicycle in that lobby for the past fifteen months, and accused had no right in the office unless witness or his cadet were present. The key pro-duced-would open the office door. There was no cadet at--the office Until five o'clock on the day mentioned, and then he was only there for a few minutes. Alexander Simpson, licensee of the i Redcliff Hotel, Ikawai, said that on June 2-4 accused was at his. hotel and cashed a £lO and a £5 note, paying for drinks for several in the bar. Someone remarked to accused, "You're pretty silvery," and accused replied that "it was pay-day yesterday." Detective Fahey deposed that on 16th October he interviewed accused and told him of the theft at "the Glenavy railway station and also that accused had, shortly after, changed a £10" note and a £.5 note at the Redcliff Hotel. Accused replied that lie remembered changing the: £lO note,' but did not remember the £5 note. He might have, ■ but if lie did he got the note from someone on his rounds. The £lO note he

I got from ' Frederick Pclvin;. who had paid his account that day. Accused denied all knowledge of the theft at the , railway station. Frederick Pclvin, farmer, Glenavy, denied naying accused an account on or about June 24 with a £lO note. George Park, father of accused, de,nied having paid his son a large sum of money on or about June 24. His son" brought home a large amount. Constable Hilliard produced a key unlocking the,office of the railway station. It had been given to him about a month ago by accused's mother, who said her son found it in his working clothes. ° .concluded the evidence. Accused pleaded nofc guilty Lo the charge and reserved, his defence. He was commit- i tod to the Supreme Court at Timaru for-trial. -,-"."■