CRIME IN WELLINGTON

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 61

CRIME IN WELLINGTON

AN UNPROVOKED ASSAULT BREAKING AND ENTERING CHARGES. WELLINGTON, August 27. Inquiries by detectives into the circumstances of an attempt to break and enter the Self-help grocery store at Petone last month led to the finding of .45 automatic pistol ammunition, two bludgeons, and a black mask. As a result, Leslie Gordon Clarke, aged 22, a seaman, William Edward Brown, aged 27, a cabinet maker, and Sydney John Hodge, aged 35, a carpenter, were charged before Mr E. Page, S.M, to-day. Clarke pleaded guilty to assaulting James William Batten at Island Bay with intent to rob him, and two charges of breaking and entering and theft and one of attempted breaking and entering, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. He also pleaded, guilty to having unlawfully in his possession an automatic pistol and ammunition. The magistrate said he would adjourn this case sine die and deal with it after Clarke had been before the Supreme Court. Hodge pleaded guilty to attempted breaking and entering, and was committed for sentence. Brown pleaded not guilty to one charge of breaking and entering and theft and one of attempted breaking and entering, and was committed for trial, bail being allowed in the sum of £250. The circumstances of the assault by Clarke were outlined in the evidence of Batten, pawnbroker and jeweller, of Cuba street. He said that on July 30 he found his premises had been entered and an attempt made to open the door leading into the main shop. He did not miss anything from the premises. On the night of September 2 he was going home at Island Bay about 10.20. Walking along Derwent street towards the Esplanade he passed a man standing on the edge of the kerb. He walked on about 20 yards, and heard someone walking behind him. Suddenly he felt something going wrong .with him. He did not feel anything, bnt tried to collect his thoughts, and in doing so turned round. Just as he turned someone hit him on the right side of the bead with some heavy article. He received only one blow, which cut his face. He called out, and the man ran away.