TOURING THIEVES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17608, 26 October 1931, Page 6

TOURING THIEVES

EXPLOITS IN STOLEN CAR CAREER OF CRIME A short but hectic career of crime by two mothers was brought to a sensational climax by their arrest at Swanson, Auckland, on October 10, when detectives fired their revolvers before accused were captured. The story of their exploits in a stolen speedy red car was told at the- Police Court, when the two young men, William Noel Cole, 24, mechanic, and Bernard Charles Cole, 25, a laborer, appeared on numerous summary and indictable charges. Oil the nine summary charges against, them they were dealt with by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., who consigned ea'ch to prison for 12 months. Chief-Detective Hammond prosecuted, and accused, who each pleaded guilty 1 1 all the charges, were represented by Mr. Dunlop. ‘•EXHIBITS’’ AND EXPLOSIVES Portion of'- the stolen goods recovered by detectives littered the floor at the court this morning as exhibits. There was almost enough general merchandise to stock a shop, and sufficient gelignite and dynamite to w retie a street of shops. Referring to the nine summary charges against the brothers, Ghief-De-tiitive Hammond said that they had set out on a. systematic career of crime. In Mr. Martin’s motor-car, which they bad stolen from his garage, they toured all over the Auckland district, thieving wherever they went. They stole benzine from bowser stations and .carried- it*in frnilk cans, which they had also stolen. Both had been farming in tfie Taranaki district, and .were hard workers 'while so employed. They had been in trouble before. Adding that he did not have their records before him, Mr Hammond said he understood that tney had been in the Borstal Institute. "On each of two charges I sentence them to six months’ imprisonment, the sentences to be cumulative,” said Mr. Hunt. “They can start the 12 months to-day.” On the indictable charges the men, who pleaded guilty to all counts, were committed to tlm Supreme Court for sentence, while on the charge of breaking and entering at Raglan they were remanded to appear at Hamilton on 0< tuber 23. It was indicated that there would he other charges. WHAT SEARCH REVEALED

Detective Packman said that with Detective Hayes lie arrested both accused at 1.30 a.m. on October 10 at -Swanson andi charged them .with the theft of -Mr. Martin's motor car. The L use in which accused had been living at ,Swanson was searched, and a large quantity of stolen property, comprising groceries, clothing, dynamite, about 10C plugs ol .gelignite, a chain of fuse, and several hundred' detonators, was dis covered. 'Witness interviewed both accused and each made a statement describing' the places from which they took, stolen pioperiy. Mr. Dunlop: I believe you and the other detective fired your revolvers?— ' Yes ; both men rail from us, and it had the desired effect of stopping them.” Under* further 'cross-examination. Detective Packman said he had chased accused 7CO miles before their arrest. He had no idea who the men were before ai resting them. Both lie and Detective Hayes carried revolvers—they did not know what sort of men accused were. Witness said he, had no reason to suspect violence from accused more than from other criminals. To carry revolvers was not unusual. Since their arrest accused had been straightforward, and had given every assistance to the police. They had a shotgun and cartridges in their possession. Mr. Hunt commended the detectives, and said they had acted quite properly in firing their revolvers when accused ran.