OTAUTAU THEFTS

Southland Times, Issue 22202, 20 December 1933, Page 8

OTAUTAU THEFTS

PLEAS OF GUILTY BULMAN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE BREAKING AND ENTERING After evidence had been called in support of the prosecution, Eric Anthony Bulman, aged 23, pleaded guilty before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence on three charges respectively of breaking and entering the shops of the Single Profits Store (Otautau) and of Andrew John Grieve (Otautau) and committing the crime of theft therein and of stealing a motor car valued at £228, the property of John Wood Henderson. Detective-Sergeant D. J. Hewitt prosecuted, while Mr J. G. Imlay, instructed by Mr Gordon Reed, appeared for the accused. Thomas Carsley Stroud, manager of the Single Profits Store, Otautau, gave evidence that the shop was securely locked up when he left the premises on November 26. On arriving the next day, he noticed a scratch across the front window. His suspicions aroused, he went in to look at the safe which he discovered was missing. Witness gave particulars of the cheques and other moneys in the safe and also of certain other articles found to have been stolen. Clifford George Taylor, a salesman, said that the accused called in to Hallenstein Bros.’ shop in Invercargill and sought bank notes for some silver he had in his pocket. The desired change was given. William George, a mens outfitter carrying on business in Invercargill, said that on November 27 a man came into his shop and paid by cheque and silver for certain purchases made. Witness gave details of the cheques. Minna White, a saleswoman employed by J. P. Ryan, fruiterer, said the accused came to the shop on November 28 and asked if she could cash a cheque. He said he did not want the money right away as the cheque might not be right. He did not want them to lose anything, he said, and would call back later. She put the cheque through Russell’s Service Station as she was not banking. It came back. She did not cash the cheque and the accused did not get any money. Edward Walter Wright, a hairdresser, said that the accused came to his shop and likewise asked witness to see if a certain cheque was all right. Evidence as to his inquiries into the robbery was given by Constable A. C. White, of Otautau. He said he went to an old house at Fairfax and found under the dwelling a suitcase containing rotten fruit. In an old cupboard he discovered tins of pineapples and pears, bottles of cordial and coffee, a part tin of biscuits and soap. By the back door he found a wire with a piece of lead attached to it, the whole being wrapped in a piece of rag. Two diamond glass cutters were also discovered in the cupboard. The house was that where Henderson’s stolen motor car and also the safe were found. Later a heavy hammer and chisel were discovered in a nearbj' gorse bush. Ihe door of the safe had been burst off and the safe thrown into a water hole. The accused at one time had lived opposite this house.

Detective Robert Lean said that on December 1, while making inquiries regarding the Single Profits Store burglary, he was in the shop of Mr Wright,' the hairdresser. The accused came in, but on seeing witness he ran away. When he was caught he admitted that he had presented a cheque to Mr Wright and also three other ones. He said he had found them in an envelope in Don street. Witness than arrested him and charged with the present offence. The accused, when later interviewed at the Borstal, told witness that the car discovered had been removed by him from behind the Southland Power Board’s yard in. Invercargill. He had purchased paint and repainted the vehicle. He also said he met another man (whom he did not know by name) and he (the accused) had waited outside Grieve’s shop. at Otautau while his companion broke inside. Every inquiry had been made since, but no trace of the alleged companion had been found. Evidence in support of the charge of breaking and entering the shop of Andrew John Grieve and committing theft therein and of the theft of the motor car was given by Mr Grieve and De-tective-Sergeant D. J. Hewitt. His Worship then committed the accused to the Supreme Court for sentence. Mr Imlay applied for bail,, but on the detective-sergeant . objecting, the Court refused the application in the meantime.

A SERIES OF CHARGES

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY.

Three charges of breaking and entering and theft in respect to _ two dwellinghouses and one shop at Waimahaka, Fortrose and Waikawa respectively and six charges of theft were preferred against Thomas Edward Hardwick, when he also appeared before Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday. Three of the offences were of an indictable nature, the accused pleading guilty to the remainder. After the evidence in support of the prosecution had been given, the accused, who pleaded guilty, was. committed for sentence on the indictable offences. On each of the remaining charges he was remanded for sentence until February 28. An order was made for the return of the stolen goods.