CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19042, 16 June 1936, Page 8

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

TRAPDOOR & PEEPHOLES POLICE RAID ON FACTORY MELBOURNE, May 22. Factory premises containing a trapdoor and peep holes were described by Detective Leigh and police witnesses in the Third City Court to-day, when four men and a young woir.an appeared before Air, Manser, P.M., on charges of having conspired to obtain goods by fraud. ..-••

The police called 72 witnesses. , The defendants were Ernest Wright, mannlacturer, of Goldsmith street. Ehvood." and Margaret Tate, typist, of Mary street, St. Kilda, live charges; Davui Rose, salesman, of Latrobe street, Caulfield, and William C. Lawson, electrical fitter, of Brunswick road, Brunswick, four charges; and John Bartholomew, salesman, of Little Collins street, one charge. The Crown alleged that the defendants, .all of whom were associated with Neon Industries, Limited, obtained goods on credit, without intending to pay for them. Detective Leigh said that, on March 12, he called at the factory of Neon Industries, Limited, in Carlton. After ringing a bell, he looked up at the ceiling, and saw somebody peering at. him through a hole. Rose then appeared at a small aperture in the door, but he refused to allow Loigli to enter. Leigh went, away, and returned with a sledge hammer, with which he battered down the door. He saw Miss Tate in the office, but he was unable to find Rose. A trapdoor in the floor of the office had evidently facilitated his escape. A basket containing a large number of rubber stamps was on the office, table, and he also saw a notice pasted on the wall above a desk. The notice read : 'Lock doors to incomers, 9.30 a.m Open 1 p.m. Lock doors again 1.30 p.m. Open 5.30 p.m. Merchandise in and out by hoist. Signatures. Throw down after gopds-up papers received through trap." The defendants were, committed for trial in the general sessions. Bail was allowed.