ALLEGED THEFT OF SAFE

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 11

ALLEGED THEFT OF SAFE

TAWHITI FACTORY INCIDENT TWO YOUTHS BEFORE THE COURT. FURTHER CHARGES INDICATED The charge that he broke and entered the bacon factory of T. H, Walker, Tawhiti, Hawera, and stole a safe and £7 was laid against a youth in the Eltham Child Welfare Court yesterday. Break ing, entering and theft wore also alleged against his elder brother. The names of both were suppressed, and Mr. J. W. Stubbs, J.P., in granting a remand. refused to allow bail. Detective Meiklejohn, who opposed the granting of bail, indicated that further charges of a similar nature were pending. The charges against the elder accused were that on June 14, at Eltham, by night, he broke into and entered the shop of Ernest Clare, High Street, and stole goods to the value of 18s lOd; that on July 6, at Eltham, he was found in possession of instruments —skeleton keys —for housebreaking, also a box of razor blades, the property of someone unknown, to the value of £1 12s Gd; and on July 6, at Eltham, he resisted Arthur Bell Meiklejohn in the execution of his duty. Detective Meiklejohn applied' for a remand until July 16. Mr. Chrystal offered no objection, and asked that light bail be imposed as it was probable that the charges might ultimately bo heard by the Child Welfare Court. It did not appear that there was any reason to fix substantial bail. If bail was not granted, there was the possibility that the youth might be herded in company with criminals in the New Plymouth gaol until August. Counsel thought that justice would be met by granting bail in mother’s security.

Detective Meiklejohn said the accused was 18 years of age, and he could not see how he could be dealt with by the Child Welfare Court. He pointed out that the charges were serious, and that other charges of a similar nature were pending. For those reasons he opposed bail being granted. From inquiries already made, it was alleged that accused was one of a gang of youths who had been operating in the South Taranaki district. The police requested time to make further inquiries with the object of roping in others who were alleged to be implicated, and for that reason he opposed bail. « Detective Meiklejohn said it was not a minor trouble. Accused had given a great deal of trouble. A gang had been at work, and it was the duty of tho police to do everything -possible to clean up this class of crime. At any rate, as to bail, the detective suggested that application could be made on Wednesday next at New Plymouth. Mr. Chrystal emphatically protested, stating that it was not right that the youth should be sent to a public prison. Such a procedure was not the intention of the legislature in such cases. After lengthy argument Mr. Stubbs, in giving his decision that bail be refused, said he would make an order that the accused bo kept separate from other prisoners in the New Plymouth gaol, during the time of the remand. The police agreed to the request of the Bench that accused bo given full opportunity to consult his legal adviser to-day. Tho younger brother, whose ease came under the Child Welfare Court, was charged that on June 29, at Hawera, he broke and entered the counting-house of T. H. Walker and Co., Ltd., and stole a safe to tho value of £3O and £7 in money.

Accused, was remanded until next week, bail being allowed in the sum of £5O in his mother’s surety. The Court made an order for the suppression of the names of both accused.