A CONSTABLE AT COURT

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 32, 6 February 1913, Page 3

A CONSTABLE AT COURT

COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, February 5. ' The Magistrate’s Court was crowded to-day when Charles Alfred Remmere, ex-constable, was charged with a series of thefts. The first charge taken was that of robbery from the premises of Ross, jeweller, the value of the stolen articles being estimated at £l4O. Mary Ledger, boardinghouse keeper; gave evidence that on January 22 accused left an overcoat at her place. On the 29th, she, with one of the boarders, (examined the pockets of the coat, and found wrapped in some silk handkerchiefs a large number .of articles of jewellery. She at once sent for the detectives.

Detective Andrews gave evidence that when he charged accused ■ with stealing the jewellery he made no reply. After Remmers had been before the Court he told witness he had broken Ross’s window at 3 a.m. on January 22nd and taken the jewellery. He committed the offence single-handed and on the spur of the moment, because he owed some money to a sister in England and had promised to bring her and her mother out to New Zealand. He had watched the constable on the adjoining beat until he was satisfied he was far enough away not to hear him. In addition to the jewellery found in the overcoat, about fifty tie-pins were discovered floating in a cardboard box in the harbour.

Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Remmers also pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a hat from Wallace’s, and cutlery from Radford’s. In the other cases he elected to be tried by jury. Formally charged, accused had nothing to say and was committed for sentence.