CITY POLICE COURT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25866, 9 June 1945, Page 5

CITY POLICE COURT

Friday, June 8 (Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M.) Desertion From Ship George Brimsley, a seaman, pleaded guilty to a charge of deserting an overseas vessel while at Port Chalmers.—The representative of the company concerned asked for a conviction as there was an acute shortage of seamen, and the ship had now left New Zealand.—The accused was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. . Drunkenness On a charge of drunkenness, Pinder Mackie, a freezing works employee, of Finegand, was fined 20s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Breaking and Entering Charges Rodger Llewellen Ivor John (Mr G. M. Lloyd), a cutter, -aged 13; and Alfred Elliot Baker (Mr A. G. Neill), aged 32, of Pelichet Bay, appeared on charges of breaking and entering and theft.—Vivian William Laws, an engineer employed by D. H. Blackie and Co., Ltd., said that on May 11 he found that two sets of stocks and dies, valued at £6, and a bicycle, valued at £ls 15s, were missing. He also noticed that one of the windows opening into Police street was insecure to such an extent that it would have been an easy matter to gain entrance through it. At the detective office on May 18 he identified a rubber stamp and a number of cutting knives as the property of his firm. John had worked for the firm for a period of two years, but had now left its employ.—Robin Arundel Wilkinson, a warehouseman, identified eight yards of worsted suiting and 70 yards of cotton material, to a total value of £ll ss, as belonging to Blackie and Co. —Margaret Mary Murch, tailoress, stated that on the night of May 9 she left her bicycle, valued at £l2, outside her home. Next day she discovered it was missing.—Acting Detective Frederick Roy Hearsey said that John, in a statement to the police, said that on the night of May 9 he and Baker had gone to Blackie and Co.’s .premises, where Baker assisted John through a window and waited outside until he opened the door. They took some goods and returned later, when, at Baker's suggestion, John took two bolts of cloth. Baker later took the material and told John that he would sell it and divide the money with him. On the way , home Baker had taken possession of a lady’s bicycle, saying that it would take too long to walk. Witness said he had gone to John’s home, where he discovered six knives and a rubber stamp machine. He also called at the Dunedin Railway Station and recovered one of the missing bicycles. Subsequently he had taken out a search warrant, and with Detectives Brown and Marshall went to Baker’s house, where he found a considerable quantity of stolen goods. When questioned about the bicycles, Baker said that he had abandoned one at the Dunedin Station and had left the other in Leith street.—John, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, bail being allowed at £SO, with one surety of £SO, provisional on his reporting twice daily to the police. Baker, who pleaded not guilty, was also charged .wiih stealing six butcher’s knives from a show case outside the premises of Vernon Smith, Ltd., in George street.— Constable Hessal Alfred Plumridge said that the show case was forced open by the use of a jemmy or some other instrument.—Jack Henry Billing, salesman, stated that in June, 1944, he had tacked the wooden handles of the knives to a piece of three-ply. He later identified these knives at the detective office by noting that there were tack marks on each of the handles. The value of the knives would be about £2 11s 6d.—Detective Hearsey stated that he searched the defendant’s house and found the knives in a drawer in the living room.— Baker was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Bail was granted at £2OO, with one surety , of £2OO or two sureties of £IOO each, the accused to report twice daily to the police.