THE KUROW FIRE AND BURGLARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18643, 21 December 1928, Page 5

THE KUROW FIRE AND BURGLARY.

CHARGES ADMITTED BY LEONARD COOPER.

SAID HE WAS PRETTY DRUNK AT TIME. fSpecial to the “Star.") OAMARU, December 20. Following the sensational burglary and fire at Kurow, when the Post Office and railway station building were destroyed on December 3. police investigations resulted in seven charges being preferred against Leonard Walter Cooper, alias Leslie West, at the Magistrate's Court to-day. before Mr IT. W. Bundle. Accused was not represented by counsel. Cooper was charged with the theft of an overcoat at Oamaru. a watctichain at Awakino, making a false document by endorsing the name of J. Ryan on a cheque, and causing James Walker to accept it as genuine, breaking and entering the drapery premises of Jack Munton Hendy at Oamaru, also with stealing a cheque and letters from the Kurow Post Office, and wilfully setting fire to the Kurow Post Office. The first four counts, being disposed of. Detective Nuttall proceeded with the charge of burglary at Oamaru, and produced a statement from accused which disclosed that Cooper proceeded from Kurow races to Oamaru on October 6, with a companion, whose name was not given. Accused entered Hendy’s shop about midnight, entrance being gained by smashing a window. Two suitcases were packed with goods, but accused had not disposed of the articles. He was under the influence of liquor at the time. This statement was amended by Detective Nuttall, who said accused had since stated that he committed the burglary on his own initiative. At this stage evidence was taken with regard to the Kurow fire and burglary. Keith Wilson Clough, a cadet employed at the Kurow Post Office, deposed that he was back at the Post Office on Sunday night, December 2. On leaving the premises the windows were all locked, and he locked the back door facing the station. When he left everything was in order. The top envelope of the bundle produced bore the date stamp, December 3. That date was stamped on Sunday, December 2, the reason for this being to save time in stamping and sorting on Monday morning, the mail being despatched early. Henry Joseph Delargy, sheepfarmer. Hakataramea Valley, stated that on coming across the Kurow bridge from Hakataramea on the morning of the fire he saw a bundle of letters. He notified Devine, and the Chief Postmaster at Oamaru, and in their company went back and saw them take possession of the letters. Detective Nuttall stated that on December 11 he interviweed accused at Timaru in connection -with the theft of letters from the Kurow Post Office and also the destruction of the post office and railway station by fire. Accused first denied knowing anything about it, but later stated: “If you will give me pencil and paper I will tell you all about it.” Detective Nuttall then read to the court accused’s statement to the police, which was, in part, as follows:

“On the night of December 2 I arrived back in Kurow from Oamaru and proceeded to a boarding house. I then went to a 4 bach ’ speaking with a friend for half an hour. I left the hut for the Railway Hotel to try to get drink, but it was too late. It was then I got the idea of breaking into the post office, so I smashed a window and unlocked it and entered the building. I was pretty drunk when I did this, and I did not realise what I was doing. I took a bundle of letters out of the pigeon holes and put them in my pocket. I went out of the front door, shut it and then went straight to my room. I opened the letters, and out of one took a crossed cheque. After going through the letters I put them back in my pocket intending to take them back to the post office and throw them through the window. When I got outside I saw a glare in the sky down neaf the station. I ran down the road as far as the crossroads and saw it was the post office and railway station burning. I then got frightened and threw the letters on the road, as I could not account for the fire. The only way I can account for it, if I did it, was by my throwing cigarette butts on the floor among papers lying about. When I went out of the post office I unlocked the door and I do not think now that there was any fire there then and I cannot explain how it happened. I know I did not wilfully set it alight, but I suppose it was through my not being sober and throwing lighted cigarette butts about. Next day, as I was not feleing well, I went to Oamaru to see a doctor, as I have been in hospital there for two months and have been unable to work since, and that being on my mind and having no money and having been drinking is why I committed the robbery. While I was in Oamaru I cashed the stolen cheque, which was made out to J. Ryan. I signed his name on the back and cashed it. 1 did not touch anything else in the post office and got no money in cash. I make this statement of my own free will, as I desire to clear the whole matter up.”

Accused pleaded guilty to the charges. When Detective Nuttall intimated to the bench that perhaps accused did not understand the position when he elected to be dealt with summarily on the first two charges, in answer to a question from the Magistrate accused stated that he wished to be sent to the Supreme Court on the whole seven charges. Mr Bundle: I will allow you to withdraw your plea to be dealt with summarily. How do you propose to plead. Accused: Guilty.

The Magistrate explained the position fully to accused, and asked him if he realised what he was doing. Accused replied in the affirmative, and pleaded guilty to all the charges, lie was committed to the Supreme Court at Dunedin for sentence, the Magistrate ordering his committal to the Paparua Prison in the meantime.