SAFE-BREAKING IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20905, 20 December 1929, Page 12

SAFE-BREAKING IN DUNEDIN.

POLICE MAKE AN ARREST,

CHRISTCHURCH OFFENCES ALSO ACCOUNTED FOR.

YOUNG IMMIGRANT AWAITS

TRIAL

Coincident almost with the reassuring news of the apprehension of parties whose arrest would appear to have brought to an end the reign of terror which incendiarists caused in Christchurch comes an equally cheering statement from the local detective office that the frequent crimes of safebreaking and in the Canterbury centre and in Dunedin have, with the exception of one offence in Christchurch, been cleared up by the detention in custody of a young man named Robert Cockbum, whose

suspicious movements during the past day or two-had made him the subject -)f the closest surveillance. These arrests effected within a day of each other constitute a happy vindication of the Police Force in the two centres.

On Tuesday evening the man who now awaits trial attracted the attention of the police, and investigations then made produced a fairly good circumstantial case against him. A close watch was kept on his movements day and night, and early yesterday morning he was accosted in the yard of city premises by a constable, who was not satisfied by the explanation of his presence there that was forthcoming. He was taken into custody. Detectives continued their inquiries, and as a result the prisoner will appear before the City Police Court on Monday morning to answer a series of six charges-, which cover all the crimes of breaking and entering and theft that have been reported in respect to local offices and shops during the past few weeks. It is'also reported by the police that the offences of safe-breaking reported from Cbristchurch have all been accounted for with the exception of one. The man arrested is a native of Glasgow, who came to this country about four years ago, and who, up till about sir or seven weeks ago, was engaged as a coal miner on the West Const.

This arrest brings to an end the particular system of investigation and close watching which the Police Department was compelled to adopt in order to put a period to'the activities of the safebreaker. One of the special steps taken was the distribution over the city and suburbs of a strong company pf plainclothes men, whose duty it was to watch and wait, keeping a close watch on all midnight and early morning prowlers whose appearance gave rise to the slightest suspicion. As a result of the vigilance of these officers, and the literal manner In which their instructions were carried out, not a few harmless householders making a late way homeward were accosted and asked to give an account of themselves, cr of the contents of any hag they might be carrying.

WELLINGTON BURGLARIES

A STARTLING DEVELOPMENT.

POLICE CONSTABLE ARRESTED.

(Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 19,

Following the discovery of a man in the premises of C. Smith, Ltd., one night recently some startling developments have taken place, culminating yesterday in the arrest of a police constable apd a man who, until a short time ago, was a member of the Police Force. Their names are Hugh Robertson Stevenson, aged 27, and Wilfred Leonard Ramm, aged 29, and both appeared before Mr E. Page, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Stevenson, for whom Mr R. L. Pope appeared, was charged with receiving from Joseph Maurice White and Wilfred Leonard Ramm, clothing to the value of £l2 11s 6d, knowing it to have been dishonestly obtained. In applying for a remand until Monday, Chief Detective Lopdell said: “ The accused man was until yesterday a respected member of the Police Force. He is now an ex-constable.”

The remand was granted, bail being allowed in the accused’s own bond of £2OO and one surety of £2OO. A similar remand was granted in the case of Ramm, who is charged with breaking and entering the shop of C. Smith, Ltd., and stealing three suits of pyjamas, a hat, two caps, a dressing gown, two singlets, a pair of trousers, a pyjama coat, seven shirts, two pairs of gloves, four collars, a scarf, and nine ties, of a total, value of £25.-

Chief Detective Lopdell said that until a week or so ago the accused was a police constable. This was only one of a series of charges in which he would be involved.' They were all breaking and entering, the accused being associated with a man named White.

Mr W. E. Leicester appeared for Eamm, who was granted bail in his own bond of £2OO and two sureties of £2OO each. The man White, who was found on the premises, was before the court on Tuesday last, when he was also remanded to Monday.

THE CHRISTCHURCH ARRESTS,

POLICE INVESTIGATIONS, SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS EXPECTED. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 19. Further sensational developments in connection with tho arrest of the Gray brothers in Manchester street yesterday arc expected. Investigations by the detective.-, to-day have brought to light fresh evidence which should be helpful in clearing up not only the epidemic of incendiarism, but other serious crimes and possibly the Hammond shooting case.

Mr Edward Hammond, the principal of Messrs Hammond and Turner, who was shot by a burglar when he surprised the intruder in bis business premises in Oxford terrace, was seen by detectives to-day. It is probable that Mr Hammond will .be asked to attend an identification parade during the Jioliday period. Yesterday a search was made of the suspects’ home in Antigua street, the detectives remaining there for some time. This morning Acting-Detective Hallcrow again tlsited the house and took possession of a hacksaw. This will figure as one of the main exhibits when the

accused men appear for trial. A hacksaw has played a prominent part in more than one of the more serious crimes that have been committed in Christchurch during the past few months. In the case of the Dobson Garage, which was twice set alight, it was found on the second occasion that the lock on the door of the petrol store had been sawn through with a hacksaw.

Strangely enough, a hacksaw was used when thieves gained entrance to Messrs Hammond and Turner’s premises. It will be remembered that Mr M. E. Halligan, proprietor of the garage at the rear of Mr Hammond’s place, informed a reporter after that attempt that, in his opinion, two men were concerned.

The revolver which, it is stated, was found on one of the youths at the time of his arrest was an old German weapon. It is believed to be a specimen which had been on exhibition at the Christchurch museum.

The daring of the perpetrators of the recent burglaries is emphasised in a discovery which was made yesterday by Mr W. H. Tisdall, of the well-known sporting goods firm iu Cashel street. The sawn-off .44 calibre rifle, which was found in the possession of one of the youths yesterday morning, has been identified as one of the rifles which was taken from his shop during the last two weeks. The police have in their possession another rifle similarly sawn off. It was found this morning that both rifles had been sawn off on TiadalPs premises. The remaining pieces of each barrell were found in Mr Tisdall’a back yard. The job was not cleanly done, and Mr Tisdall stated that roughly cut as the rifles were they would make most deadlv weapons. Nearly 50 rounds of highpowered soft-nosed ammunition were also found in the possession of the suspects.

Constable Albert Gillum, who brought off the sensational arrest of the two suspects yesterday morning, is the hero of the hour. Yesterday and to-day he has been receiving telegrams of congratulation from friends in and out of the police force all over the Dominion. Last evening a remarkable demonstration in which he was the central figure occurred outside the Civic Theatre. Constable Gillum was passing the theatre just as tiie crowd was leaving. Some friends recognised him, and in a moment he was surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd who cheered him and wrun" his hand. Tall, and of fine physique. Constable Gillum is a native of Christchurch.

If Constable Gillum’s capture leads to the clearing up of the “fire bug” cases he will be entitled to the reward of £250 offered some time ago by the insurance companies. Payment of the reward is, of course, subject to the consent and approval of the Commissioner of Police.

CONSTABLE GILLUM.

THE COMMISSIONER’S TRIBUTE,

(Special to Dailt Times.)

IV ELLINGTON, December 10. The Commissioner of Police (MrW. B. M'llveney) said to-night that he was proud to have Constable Albert Gillum a member of the force. Constable Gillum, who has only been in the force for 12 months, belongs to the Wellington station, and he was lent to Christchurch during the crime wave there. He was one of the three men taken south by the Commissioner when Mr M'llveney took charge at the outset of the fires.

Mr M’llveney said that Constable Gillum had made two good arrears since he had joined the force, and as the captures were exceptionally smart ones the Commissioner had felt justified in having a mark of merit placed upon the young constable’s sheet.

“ I will take fine care," said the Commissioner, “ that Constable Gillum is substantially rewarded for this capture. X feel now that all the fire worries are at an end. Constable Gillum is a fine type of young man, being very keen and very efficient.”

Mr M'llveney said that constables had made four arrests with far-reaching effects in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin in the last few months.