SERIES OF THEFTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19107, 28 February 1924, Page 3

SERIES OF THEFTS.

WORKING MEN’S DWELLINGS ROBBED. Before Mr J. 11. Bartholomew S.M., William George Edwards pleaded guilty at the City Police Court vesterday to lour charges of theft:—l. That on February 18, at VV'aipori Falls, he broke and entered the dwelling of Alfred Wheeler and Thos. Ryder and stole from it a rifle, cartridges, _ and food, to the total value of 50s. 2. '1 hat ~ on April 13, 1923, he stole a bicycle, valued at £ls, the property of Arthur John Tremaine. 5. That on February 13, at Maungatua, he stole a ~ suitcase, clothing, etc., of a total value of £2O, the property ot John Branigan. 4. That on February 15, at Forsyth, he broke and entered by day the drolling ,of John Stevenaon, and stoic 7s 6d in money and clothing to the value of £1 10s, John Branigon, labourer, living at Maungatua, said that on return me from work to his tent on February 15 ho found that the articles mentioned in the charge had disappeared during the day. He valued them at approximately £2O, and articles to the value of about £lO were still missing. Ho had searched for them where he had been led to believe that they had been placed, hut had been unable to find them. It was his habit to tie up the entrance to his tent when he left it. and ho was quite sure ho had done so on this occasion. Alfred Wheeler, labourer, residing at Waipori Falls, said that ho and a man named Thomas Ryder occupied a hut there. At 5.15 p.m. on February 18 they left the hut unoccupied, locking it up. ’When they returned the next, morning they found that a door had been forced open by means of a tomahawk, and a rtfle and some ammunition, valued at about 30s, had been removed. Only 10 cartridges had been removed, and he had not seen these since. John Stevenson, farm labourer, Forsyth, said that goods belonging to him had - been left in an unoccupied house there. He had the key of one room. He had not been to the house for some time before he returned to it on February 18, and on (hat occasion he found that a paper matchbox containing thrccpennyhits, and clothing had been stolen. The clothing was of no value to him. In view of Ihis statement the charge was amended to one of having stolen 7s 6d in money. Detective Lean said that the accused, on being charged with the offence. had made a statement admitfine- them. Chief-detective Lewis said that the bicycle mentioned in the charge had been stolen from some peonle named Tremaine, with whom accused had been living. He had borrowed the- bicycle to get some bread, and i( had not been seen amain. The accused said that b° had sold it to a secondhand dealer, and possibly it could be recovered. The Magistrate m'd that there «vas ”o reason wb' r he should not deni sidsmar :, v "•ith the charge relating *o the 0 f Tie Mnyele. a» suggested In' the chief detective. On (hat charge the -'(rspil would bn sr>*nneoj t-> one month’s, mmrisonment with bard labour. On the ollmr e,targes he would he committed to the Supwsmo Court for sentence.