THIRTEEN CHARGES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26175, 11 June 1946, Page 2

THIRTEEN CHARGES

BREAKING AND ENTERING THREE YOUTHS ADMIT OFFENCES Nine charges of breaking and entering and theft, one of attempted breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime, and one of breaking and entering with intent to commit theft, were brought against Wilfred Gilbert Taylor, aged 19 years, residing at 127 Stafford street, tn the City Police Court before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., yesterday afternoon. The accused was represented by Mr J. G. Warrington, and pleaded guilty. Associated with Taylor In one of the cases, were Ruben James Cruden, aged 20, of Balclutha, and Raymond Cecil Barnes, aged 18 years, both of whom pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering and theft. These accused were represented by Mr C. H. Stevens. The property stolen by the three accused was valued at £203 10s OJd. Property valued at £49 13s has been recovered by the police, but the balance, amounting to £153 17s OJd, has not been recovered Barnes was jointly charged with Taylor in a complaint by William James Allen, and Cruder and Taylor were jointly charged in a complaint by Andrew Rennie. The accused were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Statements by Witnesses Elizabeth Coughlan, a married woman, of 2 Tay street. South Dunedin, said that on January 25 she left to go for a holiday, and on her return she found the house in disorder. A quantity of foodstuffs and other articles, to the value of 19s, were missing. William Ashton, a plasterer, residing and in business at 50 Melbourne street, said that his wife had gene for a holiday, and he had joined her at week-ends. After returning on one occasion he found a window open which had previously been locked. Witness identified articles produced, valued at £3 10s, as having been removed from nis house without authority.

James Mitchell McGregor, caretaker of the Forbury Park racecourse, residing at 146 Victoria road, said that he and his wife left home on February 9 and returned on February 10. He found evidence that someone had entered the house and removed four Watches, a chain, and a medal, and other articles, as well as £25 18s in money, of a total value of £57 8s

Harold Beniamin Power, a director of Dunedin Taxis, residing at 156 Musselburgh rise, said that at 9.45 on the night of February 10 he heard someone entering the grounds of his house. He saw three youths entering by a gate and went out to meet them, but found no one. He heard a bell ringing in a house next door. He went Into the street and caught a boy, who gave a fictitious name. Ethel Catherine Power, the wife of the preceding witness, said she heard someone endeavouring to open the back door of her home

Andrew Rennie, postmaster at Caveisham, residing at 324 Bay View road, said that he left his house with his family on February 16, and returned about 0.45 a.m. on February 17. He found that a fanlight had been forced open. The back door was unlocked and the key was missing. A watch and a mouth organ, valued at £7 ss, were missing from the house. Robert Eric McCormack, a single man residing with his mother at 123 Main North road, said that he left his home about 7 p.m. on February 27, and the house was securely locked except for one window. On his return about 11.20 p.m. he found that some articles In his bedroom had been disturbed and the window was shut. War bonds valued at £5 and some money had been taken, as well as a cigarette case and other articles, valued In all at £45 Bs. Liquor Stolen Isabel Ann McKenzie, residing at 14 Napier street, Mornington, said she left the, house at about 9.20 a.m. on April 2, and returned about 10.50 p.m. A window had been opened wide, and the contents of various drawers were found scattered about, while the back door was unlocked and the key was missing. Two or three bottles of champagne, a bottle of burgundy, a bottle of gin, a bottle of schnapps, three bottles of whisky, and two each of sherry, brandy and of port wine were discovered to be missing from the house, as well as other articles, of a total value of £SO 4s Bd. Joseph Patrick Dooley, an accountant, residing at 14 Napier street, gave evidence of having missed goods and money to the value of £2B 5s lOd from his house during his absence Elizabeth Charters, a spinster, residing at 48 Elgin road with Margaret Helen Fraser, said that on April 15 last she was in bed about 10.15 p.m. and the other occupants of the house were out, when someone opened the door of her bedroom. She called out, and the person ran out of the house. Entry to the house had been gained by a bedroom window. Bertzow Franklin Simonsen, a school teacher, said that he had been relieving the principal of the Macandrew Intermediate School. On April 16 he found that the school had been broken into, and the drawers of teachers’ desks had been forced. The sum of £3 5s 6Jd had been stolen.

William John Haynes, a picture frame factory manager, residing at Waverley, said that on May 7 last he had left his premises In Ward street securely locked, and on the following morning found that the premises had been broken Into and stamps valued at 12s had been stolen. William James Allen, a hairdresser, residing at 19 Gilmour street. Wakari, said that on May 21, when he and his wife were absent from the home, it was entered and left in general disorder. About £1 in silver had been stolen, as well as a watch and various other articles of a total value of £7 3s. of which all but £1 had been recovered Statements to Police

Detective Sergeant Macdonald Brown said he interviewed the accused Taylor, showed him three gold rings, and asked him If he had sold them to a second-hand dealer. The room occupied by the accused at 127 Stafford street was searched, and various articles were found. Another search was made on June 3, and possession was taken of other articles. On June 4, further articles which Taylor said had been stolen from the Allens’ home, were recovered from a juvenile. On May 30 a watch was recovered. Witness found a ring with 59 assorted keys on it in the accused Taylor’s room when he searched it on May 29 He produped a statement made by the accused Taylor. He interviewed the accused Barnes on May 24, and told him he was suspected of going with the accused Taylor when he had broken into a dwelling on May 21. Barnes stated that he had assisted Taylor to gain entry to the Allen house, and a Juvenile had been outside keeping watch. The accused Cruden was interviewed on June 2. and he made a statement

Witness produced a schedule showing that the property stolen in all cases had amounted to £203 10s Old, of which £49 13s had been recovered and £153 17s Old had not been recovered. Taylor had been frank when interviewed, witness said to counsel, and the majority of the goods had been recovered from him. Craden had also been quite frank in his statement. Barnes had made an oral statement quite freely