SERIOUS CHARGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12726, 22 August 1919, Page 6

SERIOUS CHARGES.

YOUTH BEFORE COURT. ALLEGED THEFT, FORGERY AND ARSON. A lengthy list of charges, including the theft of postal packets, and money therefrom, also forgery and arson, was preferred against Claude Thompson, a. youth sixteen and a half years of age, at the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Messrs John Jamieson, J.P., and H. J. Growther, J.P. Chief-Detective M’llveney conducted the case for the prosecution- Accused was not represented by counsel. The following charges were made against the accused:— That on divers dates, between July 16 and 31, 1919, at Christchurch, he did steal certain postal packets, the property of Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd-; That between July 28 and 31 he did steal certain postal packets, the property of Messrs H. Matson and Co; That on or about July 25, he did forge the signature of Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd., to a certain postal money order for £l9 13s 6d, That on divers dates between June 1 and July 31, at Christchurch, he did steal ten bottles of tabloids, two small cases of surgical instruments, one hotwater bottle, one syringe, one roll of bandages, and sundry articles, of a total value of £7 10s, the property of Messrs H- F. Stevens: That on July 27, did break and enter the shop of Messrs Brown Bros., and steal therefrom two lamps, one bell, one switch, a reel of wire, two cells, of a total value of £2, the property of Messrs Brown Bros; That on July 11, at Christchurch, he did steal one camera and five keys, of a total value of £6 7s. 6d. the property of Edgar Charles Darfield ; That between July 22 and July 30, a.t Christcnurch, he did steal from the Post Office certain postal packets, containing certain articles, of a total value of £67, the property of the Post-master-General ; That on or about July 24, at Christchurch, he wrongfully signed a. certain money order on persons, to wit, Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd.; That on July 30. at Christchurch, he wilfully set fire to a certain substance. Duncan Charles M’Farlane. sheenfannor of Waiau, stated that on July o-t o ■ ( l , T ;irded cheque (produced") for LI 2s do m favour of Petersen’s. Ltd.. Christchurch, to Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd. ’ Richard Thomas Pope, a clerk in the employ of the Kaikoura Motor Company, said that on July 23 he had sent ;!- In J olie N or der (produced) for £l9 13s bd to Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd.. Christchurch. Martin Henry Walker, motor mechamc of Kaikoura. stated that ho earned the mails between Kaikoura and Parnassus. The previous witness gave him some letters to post at Parnassus, which he duly did. I'lederick John Goston stated that he was a farmer residing at View Hill near Oxford, and said that on Julv 2-i he sent a cheque for £l3 10s Cd (produced) to Messrs . Petersen’s, Ltd., Christchurch. James Kilsyth Forrester, fanner of Hawarden, stated that on July 23 ho received a cheque for £llO 6s. payable ri bo," F ? rrest «f (crossed), and on Ju!y 28 he placed it in an envelope and posted it to Messrs H. Matson and Co., Christchurch. There was also another cheouo for'£l, which he enclosed in the . Both sums were to be pl<K.*ed to his credit by Messrs Matson and v_o* Peter Keller, a director of the firm of Messrs Booth, Macdonald and Co., Christchurch, state! that on Julv 30 he forwarded a cheque (produced) for £4 4s od to Messrs H. Matson and Co., Christchurch. William Henry Seed, managing direo- *? r x- , Me ® srs Petersen’s, Ltd., stated that rhe cheques and articles (produced), which had been forwarded to his t?’ 1 . n °t been received by him. r rancis_ Arnold Roach, cashier in the employ of Messrs H. Matson and Co., stated that the cheques produced, which previous witnesses had forwarded to his l* r m, were not received by him. George Henry Longdon, employed at i Ol office, Christchurch, said that the key produced fitted the private letter boxes of Messrs Matson and Co. and Messrs Petersen’s, Ltd. The key was not the same as when issued. It might have been altered by wear. Originally it could not open the two boxes. Detective Abbott stated that he airested the accused on August 1 at Christchurch. Witness questioned, him concerning another offence, and at that time he had. the post office key (produced) and five cheques (produced) and a treasury voucher. Accused admitted stealing the cheques from the private letter boxes of Messrs Petersen's, Ltd. and Messrs H, Matson and Co. He also nad two necklets in his possession which ne admitted stealing from Messrs Petersen s box. Accused also stated that he had cashed a cheque which he took from letersen s private letter box on 10.® (E ni °^ Bank ° f for £l3 7he ?° rt i on . of the burnt enyelope accused admitted taking from the box °f Messrs H. Matson and Co., hja u ng b .'’, ri l? d th< r m with other letters. .He said that the letters he had stolen from Messrs Matson and Co.’s and Messrs Petersens’ boxes he had set fire to and burned in a doorway in the rear of J. Lallantyne and Co ’s build J eT in t W St T et i itness handf m m \ statement admitting the offenres which accused had made to him and had signed as being correct.

ACCUSED PLEADS GUILTY. The accused pleaded guilty to the the" ™* ° f P °, Stai packefcs f ™m tn lhi mCe ’n and * Was emitted to the Supreme Court for sentencec^ ar o e of forging the name of £,hl e “ s ;. Dtd., to a money order for ±dy 13s 6d was then taken ?° Pe £!9 ob , ta i? e d a money order for lbs od at Kaikoura on July 22. sen’.rS.? r Ghristehurcii|° Xnth'o at"°lS,Ln s ' Ma, *“ to P o * Martin Walker gave evidence that he had posted the letter for the nrevious witness at Pta-rnassus o n July WilHam Henry Seed, managing dit0 j +i° f + 4 ¥ essrs Petersen’s, Ltd., ? a J ed , tbat the money order produced had not been received by him. Detective Abbott stated that he traced the money order produced to accused s possession. Accused admitted hamng taken ,t from the private box Person's, Ud. He also admitted signing the name of Peterthn/'l tbo , mo! ? e - v order, and that ho had no authority to do so Accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was .committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. supreme The charge of arson was then heard r Mui- ray. manager of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., stated that on July Si his attention was drawn to the fact that the paint on the back door of the firm s garage had been scorched to a height of about 6ft. There were also ashes, portion of envelopes and paper up against the door, all of which had been burning. The door had actually caught fire and was damaged to the extent of about £5. The build ung was owned by Mr J. Ballantyne” and occupied by the firm of Messrs Ballantyne and Co. e&srs

Police-Sergeant 0. J. King stated that on July 30, while he was' on nicdit duty, he had occasion to go through tbo right-of-way from Lichfield Street to Tnam Street at 12.45 a.m. Re saw the accused at the rear of Ballantvne’s store- He was standing a few yards away from the door with Constable Lack. Constable Lack had informed him that accused had attempted to set to the door- On examination witness found that tho bottom of the had been alight. Accused said

that he came through th© right-of-way as a short cut to luam Street when he saw the fire and that he had reported it to the constable. M itness put out the fireDetective Abbott stated that on August- 1 he arrested the accused and charged him with the offence. He admitted burning a number of letters and papers in the doorway at th© rear of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co.’s garage. Mitness had found a portion of a burnt envelope which had been referred to by a previous witness. He also found some portions of correspondence among the debrisAccused pleaded guilty to the charge and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The charge of breaking and entering the premises of Brown Bros., electrical engineers, and stealing therefrom sundry articles of electrical equipment, was then taken. Alfred E. Brown, a member of the firm, gave evidence that the articles produced had been stolen from the firm. He did not know the accused. Detective Abbott said he arrested the accused on August 1. He admitted stealing the articles (produced) from Messrs Brown Bros-’ shop, and stated that he had gained entrance to the building by forcing open the hack door. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Two charges relating to the theft of a camera- and other articles were taktm seuaratelv, before Mr T. A. B. Bailev, S-M. Accused pleaded guilty and was convicted, sentence being deferred.