CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN FAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19154, 21 August 1930, Page 5

CHARGES AGAINST TWO MEN FAIL.

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING CASES HEARD.

Charged with braking and entering the premises of Ballin Bros., and the premises of Munday’s, Ltd., George Cann and William Frederick Garner were both acquitted by the Supreme Court jury yesterday. Mr Donnelly prosecuted. Mr Hunter appeared for Cann and Mr Smithson for Garner.

Sergeant David Ilyland said that about 2.30 a.m. on May 25 he went to the corner of Stanley Street and Co-. lombo Street, and there he found a witness named Rintoul detaining Cann. Witness arrested Cann and charged him with attempting to break and enter Munday’s shc-p. Cann replied: “ 1 did not; I never was there.” Detective Ernest Thomas said he found in a pocket torn from a garment and found at Mundays’ a quantity of hair of varying colours. Garner was a hairdresser by trade. Garner’s room was searched and witness found two socks which corresponded to two odd socks found at the scene of the attempted burglary. Two small coils of fuse were found which Garner admitted were his. lie said he had had them since about July of last year. The fuse was old and faded in colour, and similar in appearance to the fuse found at Mundays’. Garner denied ail knowledge of both the crimes, and said: “If you say I did the job, put me in the cells.” When arrested on June 4. Garner had nothing to say. Gifts of Liquor. Patrick O’Brien, a labourer living at Parnassus, said he came to Christchurch with Garner in April last. They were both out of work. On May 17 witness saw Garner about 6 p.m. Garner was not in the house when witness went to bed about 9 p.m. He next saw Garner about 1 p.m. on the following day. Garner being then in bed. On that day they drank beer and whisky and wine. On the following day witness left. Before he left he got from Garner a bottle of champagne and two ami a half bottles of whisky. Garner did not say where the liquor had come from. To Mr Smithson: Witness had been working with Garner on the Napier railway construction work. They came to Christchurch because they got sick of the northern job. The jury retired at 4.5 p.m. and returned to Court at 4.45 pan. with a verdict of not guilty. The prisoners were discharged.