“FIRE BUGS” AND THIEVES WORKER WILL IN KAIAPOI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18012, 24 November 1926, Page 5

“FIRE BUGS” AND THIEVES WORKER WILL IN KAIAPOI.

ARRESTED AND SENT TO SUPREME COURT.

On returning to his home in Cass Street, Kaiapoi, on November 8, after an absence of about two weeks, Mr L. Pearce found that the dwelling had been entered and that carpenter’s tools and personal belongings to the value of £24 0s 6d had been stolen. An attempt had also been made to set fire to the house. The police were notified and arrests were made. As the result Rudolph Kreft, and Arthur Henry Albert Gordon (Mr K. M. Gresson) guilty in the Magistrate’s Court, Kaiapoi, before Messrs T. Bosomworth, J.P., and A. J. Rich, J.P., this morning to the following charge;— That on November 8 at Kaiapoi they broke and entered the dwelling of Mr L. Pearce and stole tools and personal belongings to the value of £24 0s 6d. Chief-Detective . Gibson conducted the case for the police. Mr L. Pearce said that on November S, he visited the house and found the back door open and a window in the bathroom broken. On entering he found two chairs blocking the passage, and a hole burnt in the floor. The articles mentioned in the information were those stolen from the house. Constable E. Warren stated that he interviewed Kreft on November 8 and recovered all the property produced except a saw and a gold ring. Accused admitted stealing the articles and later to returning and setting fire to the house. Also that on October 16 he had set fire to the fence of Mr J. Taylor's property in Fuller Street, and on November 2 having set fire to Mr A. J. Wilson’s house in Cam Road. Detective Sergeant Bickerdike stated that on November 10 be interviewed the accused, Gordon, who admitted assisting Kreft. On being searched, a gold ring and saw, the property of Mr L. Pearce, were found in his possession. These he stated were given to him b}' Krerft. Both accused were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. Gordon was granted bail in self £SO and one security of £SO. Rudolph Kreft was further charged with wilfully setting fire to a dwelling in Cam Road, Kaiapoi, the property of Mr A. W. Wilson, of Hanmer Springs. Accused oleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sen-