WHOLESALE ROBBERIES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12366, 5 December 1904, Page 7

WHOLESALE ROBBERIES.

FROM THE BALL ROAD RAILWAY

(STATION

ARREST OF A KAKARAMEA

RESIDENT

During the Qaet three months (says ohe Patea "Press") 'a large Quantity of goods of various descriptions have disappeared from the Ball Road railway station, and the efforts of the police and the railway department to track them have hitherto been unavailing. The first case happened on August 22, when :a box of soap which had 'been left .at the station was missing. '.From that date cases of jam, a box of cu'tlerv, bags of flour and sugar, parcels of boots and. drapery, a ton and a 'half of potatoes, and other articles have vanished. On October 10 Mr Kearton left a travelling bag containing clothes and other tilings valued at £15 at the station whilst he went to Hurleyville. Returning on the "fdllowing day, the 'bag bad gone. Numerous complaints have been made to Constaible O'Brien, and that officer and a porter from the railway station have gone out on several nights to watch the station, but without success ias fa,r 'as the detection of the culprit went. A few days ago Constable O'Brien received information that a pair of field-glasses were being offered for sale. He 3ooked through the list of articles Mr Kearton had informed the police were in his bag, but there was no mention of any field-glasses. Thinking possibly they might have been overlooked. Constable O'Brien telegraphed Mr Kearton, asking him if a pair of field-glasses had been in his bag, and if so Yvhat wore they like. He received a reply in the affirmative and a description of the glasses. This answered to those that were offered for sale, and, taking out a warrant, on Wednesday Constable o'B.rien .proceeded to the reeidenco of A. Honey, a well-known resident of Kakaramea. On searching the premises the missing bag and contents, and some of all the 'lost goods, with the exception of the potatoes, were found. Constaible O'Brien at once arrested Honey, who, on being taxed with the offence, denied it. stating that -he had bought the goods from a hawker. Honey ■WWS brought to Patea, where he was bailed out.

On Thursday morniinp; Honey ai^pearcd ibefora Mr H. E. Doano, J.P., to answer six charges of theft. Tho police applied for a remand for eight days, which was .granted. Bail was allowed the accused in two sureties,of £50, and himself in £100. (