ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7700, 8 May 1903, Page 3

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

COURT PROCEEDINGS. . Frederick Macalister and William Webb appeared before Mr W. Mhraon, J:P., and Mr G. Murray, J.P., at the Magistrate's Court this morning to answer a charge of having, on April 17 or 18, broken into, the warehouse of D. Benjamin and Co., in.Lichfield Street, and stolen therefrcon a number oi articles of a totai value of between £6 and £7. Chief -Detective .Cbrystal conducted the prosecution and Mr Vincent appeared for the accused. Jacob Davis stated 1 that on March 19 the two accused were employed by him to clean the windows in Benjamin and Co.'s warehouse. On the night. of April 17 or the morning of April 18 the warehouse was entered and a quantity of goods stolen. Witness produced, a list of articles missed from the warehouse. Ho identified a number of articles produced by the police as of the same description as those missing. John Leonard Partridge, an employee of Benjamin and Co., said that on th© morning of April 18 he found that a trap-door hadi been removed in the roof of the warehouse and someone had' entered the.building. A lofc of stock was missing, and he identified a number of the articles produced 1 . Henry Earnshaw, storeman at Treleaven's grain store, said that he saw the accused about 2.30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. Macalister offered' to sell brim a briar pipe similar to that produced. On the same day Webb offered him the meerschaum pipe produced. Webb had with him a clock like the one produced, and some sleeve-links anct a brooch, also like fchose produced. Webb sadd he was travelling for a firm. Stanley Macalister statedl that his brother, one of the accused, gave him a brooch about a fortnight ago. He handed the brooch (produced) to Detective Fahey. Emma Macalister, mother of one of the accused, stated that Webb lived at her ■house (from April 13 up to the night of his arrest. Some of the articles produced were found under 'her house by Detective Quirke. William M'Nish stated that he bought the 'briar pipe produced from Macalister on April 24. Detective Fsiey gave evidence of the arrest of the accused! 'Webb. Joseph Eslick stated that he did' not sell the cigarette-holder prodiiced to the accused Webb. Detective Bailey gave evidence as to the arrest of Macalister. Detective Quirk© also gave evidence of the arrest. ■ j • The accused reserved their defence, and were- committed for\trial at the next sessions of the Supreme Court.