EX-CONSTABLE ON TRIAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 966, 8 May 1930, Page 10

EX-CONSTABLE ON TRIAL

THEFTS FROM SHOPS GIFTS TO FIANCEE Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Today. The trial began in the Supreme Court today of Joseph Reginald "Wilson, a former constable, on charges of the theft of goods from shops in Christchurch. The Crown Prosecutor said the possession of the goods had been traced to Wilson in this way: It was alleged that he gave a fur coat to a girl to whom be was engaged, but he had a disagreement with her and bought it from her for £ls. The girl said that some cutlery was left at her place and there was sufficient to stock an hotel, let alone a constable's house. The girl at first denied that Wilson had given her any thing, apparently wishing to shield him. but later she had handed over the fur coat. Wilson denied that he gave any of the articles to the girl, but her statement that he gave them was corroborated by her relatives. It was an important point that Wilson was a constable at the time. If lie committed a breach of his duty to protect the property of tradespeople and used his position to get access to their premises it was a very serious matter. Sergeant McNamara said that if a constable found a shopdoor open he should report it. Xo report of that nature was made in respect to Liberties shop on the night of February -S 1929. To Mr. Hunter, he said he did not find Wilson off his beat that night. A constable on his beat was timed and Wilson that night was where he ought to have been. Witness had always found Wilson a satisfactory constable. Gladys Myrtle Johansen said that sh ? had been engaged to Wilson. The engagement was broken off. and there was a quarrel. Witness or her mother threatened to go to the superintendent about Wilson. He brought her a coat;, saying that it was a wedding present. She bought the coat from him for £ls. He did not say where he got it. He gave her the frocks and a box of cutlery produced. She told Detective-Sergeant Young that Wilson had not given her shoes or jewellery. She did not tell the detective about the coat and the other gifts from Wilson. (Proceeding.)