A DARING CRIMINAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3782, 7 September 1926, Page 28

A DARING CRIMINAL.

COUNTRY OPERATED BY MOTOR. CHRISTCHURCH, August 31. Smart work by the Christchurch detective force has resulted in bringing to justice one of the most daring criminals with whom the police have had to deal in recent years. His modus operandi, as disclosed when the burglar was brought before the Magistrate’s Court to-day, was to take an unattended motor oar, drive out into the country, raid a small town store, and bring the swag back to Christchurch in the car, which he would then leave at some convenient stop. A few days later he would take another car, and set out upon further depredations. Small and slightly built, the burglar, Arthur Gavan, aged 25 years, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr H. A. Young, S.M., to the charges laid against him. The evidence revealed that he had previously been employed by Buick Sales (Ltd.) as salesman, and that, after losing his position, he went under the name of Palmer. Gavan was first charged with unlawfully converting a number of motor cars to his own use, and then he was joined in the dock by Thomas Alick Ellis, a taxi-driver, aged 23 years, at whose house some of the stolen goods were found, and with whom Gavan, under the name of Palmer, wa3 living at the time "of the burglaries. Ellis and Gavan were jointly charged with breaking and entering and theft. "I want all these charges to go to the Supreme Court,” said Chief Detective Gibson, ‘“because the offences regarding motor cars are connected with breaking and entering. He wanted the cars to use on the latter excursions, and it is a very serious matter.” The Magistrate said that he would send Gavan to the Supreme Court in any case. Dr H. T. D. Acland said that on August 16 he left his car on Oxford terrace near his rooms, at 2 p.m. The car was missing at 5.30, and was found in Peterborough street next day. It was not damaged, and he thought that it had been taken about 60 miles. Ernest Bolton, licensee of the United Service Hotel, put his car in the Buick Garage, Durham street, about 5 p.m. on August 19,and at 9.45 the following morning found that it was missing from the garage. The car was worth about £SOO. He recovered it on the following Saturday, August 23. He thought that it had been driven about 340 miles. Thomas. Ja.ies Maling, a 'director of Pyne, Gould, and Guinness (Ltd.), said that he owned a car valued at £595. On August 11 he missed the car from outside the Canterbury Club, and saw it next day outside the Police Station. It had been driven between 80 and 120 miles.

A builder named Alfred Edward Harper told the court that on August 21 his bicycle was stolen from a shed at the rear of his house. He recognised the machine produced in court as his. Amy Gertrude Oakley, storekeeper, and assistant postmistress at Overdale, on the Main South road between Rakaia and Ashburton, found that her shop had been broken into on August 20. She missed four bottles of pickles and a box of chocolates, similar to the one produced. The goods w’ere worth 7s Bd. “I arrested accused on a warrant ou August 23,” said Detective James Bickex*dike, “for an offence at the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association’s store at Leeston. I interviewed him regarding other offences, and he admitted using the car owned by Bolton, and also admitted the remainder of the offences with which he is now charged. Accused had nothing to say except that he “picked up” the bicycle which he was charged with stealing by the South Island Motors (Ltd.). He pleaded guilty to all the charges. Further charges of breaking and entering were then preferred jointly against Gavan and Thomas Alick Ellis. Ellis pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. Gavan pleaded guilty. Ellis was committed to the Supreme Court for trial on November 2. He was allowed bail in the sum of £l5O. and one surety of £l5O. Gavan was committed for sentence.