MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Southland Times, Issue 23736, 7 February 1939, Page 3

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Monday

(Before Messrs A. E. Lea and J.

Pickard, J.P.s)

Pleading guilty to three charges of breaking, entering and theft and one of breaking and entering, a youth, aged 17, was committed to the Supreme Court at Christchurch for sentence. The offences were committed at empty houses during the absence of the occupiers at the Christmas holidays. Detective T. Smith conducted the case for the police. James Leslie Napier, company manager, said he received advice by letter at Lake Tekapo that his house in Kelvin street had been entered during his holiday. When he returned on January 2 he found that entry had been gained by breaking a pane of glass beside the front door. A child’s moneybox containing 576, a fountain pen and a propelling pencil were missing. Isabella Strang said that on her return from holidays she found that her house in Alice street had been entered and ransacked, but nothing appeared to have been stolen. Evidence that his house at Marine parade, Bluff, had been entered by a person breaking a bathroom window was given by William McMurran. He said that a child’s money-box containing 16/- and a trinket-box containing about £1 had been stolen Entrance to his house in Elies road had been gained through a fanlight of. a window at the back, said William Albert McNee, telegraphist. Drawers had been ransacked and a silk scarf and a pair of gloves valued at £1 10/and also a small sum' of. money had been stolen. Detective Smith said he had obtained fingerprints from one of the houses entered and as a result of inquiries the accused had been arrested at Dunedin. He had admitted committing the offences with which he was charged. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. It was stated that he was awaiting sentence for offences committed at Dunedin and was to be charged with other offences at Christchurch.