“Could Get Rid Of Any Stuff They Brought,” Was Receiver’s Hint To Boys.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18940, 10 December 1929, Page 9

“Could Get Rid Of Any Stuff They Brought,” Was Receiver’s Hint To Boys.

JOHN HENRY TOLMIE PLEADS GUILTY TO CHARGE THAT FOLLOWS CITY BURGLARY.

A CHARGE against John Henry Tolmie, aged 41 years, pie shop proprietor, of receiving stolen goods was heard in the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr E. C. Levvev, S.M.

The accused, who was not represented by counsel, did not call any evidence and had nothing to say. He pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.

Chief-Detective Carroll said that the charge arose out of the breaking and entering of T. H. Green and Co.’s premises on the night ot November 30. when £73 worth of cigarettes were stolen. One of the boys would say that the cigarettes were sold to accused, who well knew them to have been stolen.

Harold William Bayliss said that he was employed as a clerk at T. IT. Green and Co. On November 30 last the store was broken into and cigarettes to the value of £73 were taken. They had already been packed up to supply customers. He identified the goods (produced) as stolen. Only £2B worth of the goods were recovered. Broke Into Warehouse.

One of the boys concerned in the theft, who gave his age as 15, said that on November 30, in company with another boy, he broke into T. H. Green apd Co.’s premises. It was about 10 p.m. They stole a large quantity of cigarettes, for which they had both been dealt with in the Children’s Court. After they got the cigarettes they put them into a sack, and took them to a pie shop in Sydenham, occupied by the accused. The cigarettes wo ‘t in the back yard, witness and bj -ate going round to the front of : iop, where they saw accused an. d him the cigarettes were in the back yard. They had a pie and went home, accused telling them to come the next morning. Nothing was said about -where they got the cigarettes. They went back the following morning to the pie shop, entering the back way, and going with accused to his bedroom. The cigarettes were then counted, accused saying that he could sell them, and telling the boys to come back later. The boys met accused in Colombo Street the same evening, and went to the pie shop, where accused handed the boys £lB and some odd shillings. When accused handed the boys the money, he said, “I have sold £25 worth. Here’s your share.”

He said he could not get very much for the rest, but he would see what he could get. Accused asked where the boys got the cigarettes, and was told they were stolen, but was not told from where they were stolen. Witness had known accused for two years, and was in the habit of visiting the pie shop pretty regu-

larly. About the middle of the week prior to the break, witness had a conversation with the accused, who said he could get rid of any stuff they could bring him. Immediately after breaking into Green’s, the boys took the stolen property straight to accused. Of the money received from the accused, £6 was handed to Detective Laugeson, the rest being paid as •deposit on a suit.

The second boy concerned, aged seventeen, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness and said that he took his £9 of the proceeds home and put it in a box under the bed. A Warrant to Search. Detective Laugeson said that at 11.30 p.m. on December 2 in company with Acting-Detective Thompson, he went to accused’s shop. They spoke to accused, witness asking if he knew the two boys. He said he did. Accused denied making any arrangements with any boys, and denied that the boys were at his shop on the night of the theft. He said the boys did not bring anything to his shop. Witness informed accused that he had a warrant to search the premises, to which accused made no objection. He said, " There is no need to make a search. I will give you the cigarettes.” Witness went into accused’s bedroom, where the cigarettes were, half in a cupboard and half under the mattress of the bed. Asked whether he knew the cigarettes had been stolen, the accused said he did, but did not know where they were stolen from. The accused said that had he known the boys would bring so many cigarettes he would not have taken them. He either had to take them or else give the boys away. Tolmie was arrested and charged with receiving stolen property. He said that; he was hard up, and gave that as the reason for the offence. He would not say to whom he sold the cigarettes, as they were bought honestly, and he did not want to bring anyone else into it. Detective Thompson corroborated the evidence of the previous witness The accused was quite frank about the whole matter and put no obstacles in the way of the police. The accused said that he had nothing to say in the matter and pleaded guilty.

He was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.