SURPRISE FOR JUROR

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 16 (Supplement)

SURPRISE FOR JUROR

OWN WATCH RECOGNISED. WHOLE PANEL DISCHARGED. When a juryman at the London Ses- , sions was inspecting some exhibits during the hearing-of a case of alleged re- ; reiving he recognised a watch which, he, said, had been stolen from him.. ~Holding that the juror might be prejudiced, the chairman, (Sir Percival’ Clarke) dis-, charged the whole jury from giving: a verdict, and said • that the case would have to be tried by another jury at the next sessions. Four., men were charged with receiv-, . ing stolen jewellery, silverware and . other valuables. Accused were Edward George Tucker, 56, compositor, Waterloo Road; Frank Williams, 31, waiter; Frederick Allen, 29, glazier, and Henry Albert Wade, 49, packing case maker. The last three-named were also charged with “breaking and entering.’ _ ...... In the well of the court, on specially . constructed trays, were numerous clocks and jewellery. There were also three revolvers, a loaded truncheon, jemmy, cameras, binoculars and wireless accumulators, all identified as part of the . proceeds of twelve burglaries. In the., third court, on the desks and seats, was another enormous array of miscellaneous property of the same kind. Included in it were three rifles, rings, watches, necklaces, silver-ware and cutlery, which the prosecution alleged were stolen. It was when this property was being inspectedby the jury that the juror recognised his watch. u ‘ “It is as curious a coincidence as could well be imagined,” said Mr. Maurice Healy, K.C., for Tucker, in asking that the case should be postponed for another • jury to hear. r. “CLEARING HOUSE”... .' ... Mr. Eastwood, when opening the case for the prosecution, said that if the police were right they had . unearthed one of the biggest receivers in London. They alleged that Tucker’s • premises had been the clearing * house for the proceeds of burglaries for a long time. Tucker was the principal, and WilUams and Allen were merely the thieves Wade quite obviously assisted- Tucker, but to what extent it was difficult to discover. ’ . A curious feature of the case was that Tucker, who was the arch receiver, was ■ employed as a compositor during the” night, and also had a small dairy in th< Waterloo Road. When his premises were searched a considerable quantity of property was found. Some of it was hidden in a false bottom of a kitchen table, which a detective heard rattle as- . he placed something heavy on it. Other property was found in a / dummy ceiling which had been built into: • ■ the room. It was packed with goods : which the police alleged had been stolen. Only a small portion of the proceeds of each robbery had been recovered. In other cases Tucker had given some of the property to his friends to keep for him. Tucker, when told that he would ’ be arrested, replied that he bought some of the articles in the Caledonian Market He then added, “My nerves went. That is why I hid it. It was in the yard ■ fore. It was not stolen by me, but by. - others. I have given them a few shillings as security. Has Wade ‘shopped’ me. or was it Ryan?” fe All the men were remanded in custody until next sessions. . ' .