A YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 3

A YOUTHFUL CRIMINAL.

BURGLARY, THEFT AND ARSON. ACCUSED ADMITS CHARGES. 'Thelre were further interesting revelations in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday when Harold tiossage Howard Gardner, a young man of about 22 years of age, appeared before Messrs H. R. Cattley and M Eraser, J's.P., on various charges involving crimes of burglary, theft and arson.

There were five case 3, including clmi'ii'v. of breaking and' entering and theft from the dwelling of R. H. Bartley, Buller Street, New Plymouth, and from the shop of H. J. Price, Devon Street; attempted breaking into the dwellin" - r P. J. Fanagan, Devon Street; theft from the warehouse of John Avery, Ltd., Currie Street; and attempting to burn the dwelling of Mr. R. H. Bartley. Sub-Inspector Hutton conducted the prosecution, and Mr.F. E. Wilson appeared on behalf of the accusedFrom the evidence given it was shown that the crimes have been spread over several months, and that there was some system adopted in the methods of the accused. He Invariably gained entrance into places by prizing open a window or door with some instrument such as a chisel, t was also careful not t<> keep any qu- itity of the appropriated goods in one place, but distributed his booty about his person and the room in which he slept.

FIRING A DWELLING HOUSE. In the case of Mr. Bartley's house it was plated the plaeb was securely locked up on December 26th, when Mr. Bartley and his family went away to Auckland The lighting and gas supplies were cut off at the meters. On returning to the house on January 2nd, Mr. Bartley found there had been a fire in the living room and also in a wardrobe in one of the bedrooms. The contents of the wardrobe were burnt, some of them being totajily destroyed. The floor and floor covering about the wardrobe were also burnt. The dress-ing-table had been much disarranged, a jewel case opened and articles removed, and an automatic revolver was also missing. Tim revolver was produced bv the police and identified by witness as his property. Articles of jewellery produced were also identified, though they did not comprise all the missing goods. On a photograph on one of the walls there had been something written in pencil. This was cut out by the police and taken by them. From a writinrr desk, which bad been prized open, a "old watch and a leather wallet had been rr-moyed. Mr Biivtlov was of opinion that an entrance to the housfe had been effected bv prizing open a window on the western side, the loci: of which was broken. The fire in the living room had been starter] nmni'rr books on the bookshelves. 7> burnt a numbev of bonks fird spread In the wall paper, burning it. and spreading up tn the ceilina. Tiie liuinii boards vm burnt through and the ceiling wn<= badly charred. The appearances pointed to the fire havina smouldered nut.

MYSTERIOUS TELEPHONE MESSAGE. '

Mr. Bartley said that on discovering what had happened in his house he communicated with tiie police, and while in tho place with an officer be received a message over the telephone to the effect that he would receive all his goods back within a week \He had tried to find out who telephoned the message, but had been unable to do so. He had not received back the goods. in the course of a short cross-exam-ination by Mr. Wilson, who submitted a letter to the witness, Mr. Bartley declined to give any opinion as to tho similarity of certain characteristics of the writing in the. letter to those of the writing on the photograph, which the police had produced. Constable Wroblenski told the story of the arrest of accused on another charge on March Ist. He then had in his possession a gold watch and a leather pocket-wallet (produced). Later in the day the Constable searched a whare occupied by accused and his brother as a bedroom, and there found hidden under the mattress of the bed an automatic revolver and a pouch wnich Mr. Bartley afterwards identified as his property. Further investigations brought to light a gold garnet brooch hidden away in a cupboard amongst some clothes.

The next morning these articles were all produced to the accused, who was told they had been found in his whare and that Mr. Bartley had identified them as his property. Accused tnen admitted the offence and made a written statement covering the same, which he signed. In the course of the statement accused said that during the Christmas holidays lie had been riding bis bicycle about and in passing BartJey's house in Buller Street noticed that , the blinds were all drawn down. Ho went home and secured a chisel for the purpose of effecting an entrance. He was short of money at the time and broke in with.the object of trying to get sonic. DETECTED BY A BOY. The next charge heard was that of an attempt to break, into the dwelling of Patrick J. Flanagan, in Devon Street, on the afternoon of February 4. Mr. Flanagan deposed to leaving his house properly locked up, and on returning found the kitchen window had been prized open from tho outside. The lock was broken and the window was up several inches. No one had entered the house.

Mrs Cobliam deposed to having her attention drawn by a boy named Neville Bellriuger to a young man evidently trying to get the window of Mr. Flanagan'?, house open. She watched him. and lie. was using an instrument of some sort trying to prut the window open. Sl-e told the boy to remain while she went to ring un. and if the man went away to come and tell her. She came back and they watched the man, who had then got the window up about eight inches. There was a bicycle standing at the gate. Witness confronted accused and said: "What sort of a game's this, when people arc out?" lie made no reply and rode away on the bicycle.

When the usual questions were put to the accused he admitted trying to break into the house, but denied that the window was opened more than two inches*, as he had his rule with him at the time and measured the opening. He was not disturbed by anyone, and left the place at bis own aceordL

THEFT FROM A WAREHOUSE. I Frederick A. Avery, secretary for John Avery, Ltd., deposed that during January last the stock of the business was moved from their Devon Street premises to a new warehouse In Currie Street. Accused had been employed by Mr. Roberts, the contractor on the new building. Witness had noticed that a case of "Mojo" chewing gum had been opened and about half the contents had disappeared. A quantity of other goods which were produced by the police were identified by the witness as stock irom his firm's warehouse. They were recognised by the private cost marks. When asked to plead accused admitted taking certain of the articles, but explained having purchased the others, and the charge was in consequence amended by a withdrawal of the informations in respect to the disputed articles. Herbert J. Price, confectioner, deposed that in June last he missed between £lO and £l2 from the till in Mb shop, and also a small wristlet watch with an expanding bracelet attached to it. Detective Fitzgibbon deposed to investigating the case. Entrance was gained to the shop by prizing open the back door. The lost watch was found in accused's room. When produced to him, he admitted having taken it and also some £lO odd from the till. COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. Accused pleaded guilty to all the charges preferred against him and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Sub-Inspector Hutton suggested that, in order to obviate keeping the prisoner in gaol for several weeks awaiting sentence at New Plymouth, he should be committed to Wellington.