“FORBURY ROAD GANG.”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 21

“FORBURY ROAD GANG.”

YOUTHFUL DESPERADOES. BURGLARY AND THEFT. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. A batch of half a dozen youths, whose ages ranged from 19 to 22 years, appeared in the dock at the City Folic© Court yesterday, before Mr H. \V. Bundle, to answer to a formidable list of charges of breaking and entering, theft, and mischief. Colin Frederick M‘Donald, Robert M'Donald M'Beath, William Leslie Lamb, and John Milne were charged with having, on June 2, broken and entered the shop of George Madigan, at Caversham, and stolen a large number of articles, valued at £42 11s'2d, the property of George Madigan. Frank Abbot M'Donald, Colin Frederick M'Donald, and Robert M'Donald M'Beath were charged with having, on May 31, at Caversham, broken and entered the warehouse of the Cowio Brewery Company (Ltd.), and stolen a quantity of liquor, valued at £3 10s. Frank Abbot M'Donald, Robert M'Donald M'Beath, and .Colin Frederick M'Donald were charged with having, on May 31, at Caversham, broken and entered the warehouse of Ronald Hatton, and stolen stamps, etc., to the value of £1 8s 3d. Robert Donald M'Beath, John Milne, Colin Frederick M'Donald. and William Leslie Lamb were charged with having, on June 2, at Dunedin, wilfully damaged a motor car to the extent of £1 5s 6d, the property of Donald M'Gregor Reid. The same accused were charged with having on June 2, at Dunedin, stolen a camera, valued at £2, the property of Donald M'Gregor Reid. Frank Abbot .M'Donald, Robert M'Donald M'Beath. John Milne, and Raymond Leavers Chaslands Appleby were oharged with having, about April 26, at Caversham, stolen a quantity of grapes, valued at £2 10s, the property of Thomas Kay Sidey. Chief-detective Lewis, who conducted the prosecution, said he would suggest the two changes in which Cowie’s Brewery and Hatton wore concerned be taken together against the three accused in connection with breaking and entering, Mr Bundle: What are the ages of accused ? • Chief-detective Lewis: From 10 to 22 years. There are other charges where damage was done, and restitution will bo asked for, and there is one oaso of breaking and entering. There will be the case of Madigan and two rather small matters. Mr Bundle agreed to adopt the course suggested by Chief-detective Lewis, and the charges against the two M'Donalds and M'Beath were then proceeded with, Mr Hanlon appearing for the former and Mr White for M'Beath. William Thomas, carter, employed by Cowie and Co., said it was port of his duty to see the premises looked up after closing up. Everything was loft secure on Saturday afternoon, May 30, at 25 minutes to 5. Ho visited the brewery at 9.30 on Sunday morning, and found the front gate open. An entrance had been gained to the premises by getting in through a window. A pane of glass war broken. The doors were unsnibbed and half open. Seven two-gallon jars filled with beer were missing out of 11 jars. Tire jars were worth 7s 6d a jar filled. The key of the bottling room was missing. Ronald Hatton, confectioner. Caversham, said ho locked up his promises on May 31 at 5 p.m. He called at the premises the following morning at 10.28. He found that the front door had been forced open, and several articles' disarranged in the front shop. There was a box of chocolates open and the contents of it and the oashbox had been removed. The latter contained 15s 9d and a number of stamps. He identified some of the goods produced as his property. To Mr White ; His total loss, deducting the value of the goods recovered, would be £1 10s to £2. Detective Sneddon stated that on June 2bo interviewed Frank M'Donald. He made a statement admitting having committed the offences. Witness later interviewed M’Beath, who made a similar statement. Qn June 3 witness interviewed Colin M'Donald, and ho admitted breaking into Cowio’s Brewery. Frank M'Donald took witness to a spot above the old railway |inq, Caversham, and there witness recovered two demijohns and also some empty bottles. Later on ho recovered some confectionery on information supplied by M'Beath. The goods were packed away in a bag and thrown uo on a loft in an old shed, and were considerably damaged. To Mr White: Thev said they were all singing in Cowie’s Brewery. Mr Bundle expressed the opinion that it was a pity the cases had been taken as breaking and entering. Chief-detective Txnwis; In view of the circumstances it could not well bo avoided. Mr Bundle i I don’t see my way to reduce the charge. Mr White: They were under the influence of drink at the time, Mr Bundle: What is the total value? Chief-detective Lewis: There is £l2 from Madigan, Mr White: But it. went back. Chief-detective Lewis: That was no fault of the accused. Accused then pleaded guilty and were eommitted to the Supreme Court for sentenre. SUMMARY CASKS ADJOURNED. The other charges were then proceeded with, Mr T. M. Gillies, appearing for the accused Milne. —George Madigan (tobacconist, 23T Main South road, Caversham) said that on June 1 he locked Ills shop up about 7 p.m. and returned at 7 o’clock the following morning. He discovered the front door open, it having evidently been unlocked from the inside. Entrance hal been gained through tthe back window The articles produced were property from his shop valued at £43 11s 2d. The sum of 2s 6d besides a few pennies was missing from the till. To Mr Gillies: Only some of the stock recovered represented all that was taken from his shop. Witness missed two Bengal razors which had not been recovered.— To the Chief-detective; It was difficult to say what was missing, as he carried a fairly large stock.—Detective Sneddon said that on June 3, in consequence of a complaint from Mr Madigan, he interviewed Colin Frederick M'Donald, who admitted that accompanied by the three other accused he had broken into the shop. Ho said that he could show where they had hidden the goods, and Agting-detective Farqnhatson and he accompanied him to Mr T. K. Si ley’s property at Caversham. From the fernery there witness recovered the goods (produced). On the same day witness interviewed M'Beath and the other two accused, Milne and Lamb, who admitted that they had taken part in the escapade—To Mr White: M'Beath admitted going down to the shop and standing at the door. lie had not, however, gone inside. He also said something about having tried to dissuade his companions from going down to Madigan's.— Mr Hanlon and Mr Gillies intimated that their clients would plead guilty.—Mr White said that he had some hesitation in advising M'Beath to plead guilty as the evidence showed that ho had tried to dissuade the others from entering the shop. The Magistrate: He aided and abetted, though he may not have been a principal party. If you wish to plead not guilty you may do so. Mr White said that M'Beath would plead guilty. The accused in this case wore committed to the Supremo Court for sentence. M'Beath pleaded guilty to stealing the camera and the charge against the other accused was withdrawn. Milne took the liability for the charge of mischief, and this information against the other accused was withdrawn. —Mr Hanlon suggested that the proper way to deal with these eases would bo to let the accused go first to the Supreme Court and then bo dealt with on the summary charges. The Magistrate agreed to this suggestion, and the charges were formally adjourned till Juno 28.—Mr Hanlon applied for ball for the accused, partly, he said, for selfish motives. “It would be much more convenient if they could come one's office v.han for one to visit them,” was his reason.—Ball was fixed at £loo_ each, with one surety of £IOO and two of £SO, the accused to report daily to the police and to maintain good conduct The Chief-detective pointed out that some provision should be made to have them kepi; apart. “They are members of the Forbury road gang,” he said, “and should not be allowed to keep together.”—His Worship said that that was a matter for his Honor to decide. Of course, if they get drink in the meantime they would be arrested. Mr White said that there would be difficulty in securing bail for Lamb and asked that ho be liberated on his own recognisance. It was not likely that he would abscond, as he had to report daily to (he police. Tbe reqaeat was agreed to.