BUCKLEY’S ESCAPADES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20484, 11 August 1928, Page 7

BUCKLEY’S ESCAPADES.

THREE CHARGES OF BURGLARY.

(Per United Press Association.) TAUMARUNUI, August 10,

The courthouse was crowded this morning when John Leslie Buckley, one of the men who escaped from Mount Eden Gaol recently, appeared before justices on charges of breaking and enter ing the Taumaranui Sash and Door Factory and stealing £5 in cash and three cheques; breaking and entering the Taumaranuni Hardware Company’s premises and stealing money and cheques to a total value of £ls 18s 9d; and breaking and entering the shop of (ho Farmers’ Co-operative Auctioneering Company and stealing money and goods to the value of £1 ICs 9d. The accused, who pleaded not guilty, asked that the charges he taken separately. 'The charge of breaking and enfering and theft from the Taumuramii Hardware Company was taken first. On this charge the accused, after evidence regarding identification and finger prints had been given, was committed to the Supremo Court at Hamilton on August 28 for trial. Detective Walsh gave evidence as to finding finger prints on a piece of glass at the hardware premises. The accused admitted to witness that lie stayed at Meredith House on July 8 under the name of De Presque, and during the evening he persuaded a party of golfers returning by ear (o Raotahi to take him with them. The evidence of finger print exports revealed that the prints of Buckley’s thumb corresponded with the murks found on the glass. Charges of breaking and entering and theft from the premises of, the Taumaranui Sasli and Door Factory and the Fanners’ Auctioneering Company were heard in the afternoon. The former charge was dismissed, while on the charges relating to the Auctioneering Company Buckley was committed for trial at Hamilton on August 28. A further charged was preferred against the accused of stealing and converting to his own use at Rcniucra a Packard car, which was eventually found abandoned near Taumaranui. The accused pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, concurrent with his present sentence.