THEFTS FROM CLOTHES LIKES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12599, 13 September 1905, Page 5

THEFTS FROM CLOTHES LIKES.

At th© Police Court, yesterday afternoon, Arthur John Tullooh and William Armstrong were brought before Mr. Stanford, S.M., and charged on six informations—(l) that on 24th August, at Alma Road, they stole two shirts, valued at 10s., the property of G. P. Leifct; (2) that on the 19th August, from the yard of the Criterion Boardinghouse, they stole three shints valued at 15s, the' property of William Hammington; (3) that on September 11th they stole ■three fthirts, valued at los, from the 'Criterion Hotel yard, 'the property of W. H. Bleasel; (4) that oh. the same night they stole a quantity of gents' wearing apparel, valued at? £2, the property of F. Atkins, of Cemetery Road-; (5) that on the same night they stole three shirts, of the value of 9s, the property of G. Chamberlain, of Cemetery Road; and (6) that on the sam<& night they stole two shirts, valued at Bs, the property of Ernest Ching, of Cemetery Road.

Tulloch pleaded guilty to all' the .charges, and Armstrong pleaded not guilty.

Evidence was given by Sergt. •Norwood and Detective Siddells to the effect that yesterday (Tuesday) morning evidence was given to the police that four different clothes.lines had been robbed, and on the police visiting the- various 'places on the Cemetery Road y they saw footprints—apparently ,of the same person —leading to Alma. Road, These footprints. were traced to' a whare on that road, and on Sergeant- Norwood1, Detective Siddells and 'Constable Fitzpatrick approaching the nlacethey sp one of the accused—-Armstrong—-outside washing. He immediately, on seeing the police, shut the tkxii" of the.whare, and stood outside. ,X)n"the police mentioning what they had visited the place for, he insisted on seeing their search warrant before allowing them to ©liter'the hut. This having been produced, the Sergeant and".warty saw a.line on which hung idlotihes of all descriptions, but principally shirts. The accused, in answer to questions, stated that the articles had been purchased in Auckland, but on the police pointing out that the' name of " Bleasel " appeared on two of the shirts the accused said that soon© of them had been bought in Wanganui. The police asked how' it was that they were wet, arid to this the .answer was given that -they 'had 'been washed by Tullcch the. previous day. Tulloeh, who, jwh©n first interviewed 'by the police, was bearing a shirt which had been stolen from G.;P, Lett's place a month previously, subsequently admitted that he had stolen" the asrticks, but Armstrong maintained that- though Tulloch lived with (him in the whare he (Armstrong) was not connected with the thefts at all, and he said that he had told Tulloch before the police appeared that he ought to take the things to the owners. Detective Siddells mentioned that the two men liad been suspected in connection with several robberies of clothes ■lines that had occurred during the last few months. They kept a lot of. pigs, and visited back yards for the purpose of getting pig wash, and presumably took advantage of. their opportunities to steal what they could. , Hiis Worship, after hearing the evidence, sentenced both accused to three months' .-imprisonment with hard labow on each of 'the two first 'charges, the sentences to ibe cumulative, and on the other charges convicted and discharged them. Speaking with regard to Armstrong, Mr Stanford said he quite believed him to be equally guilty with Tulloch.

The stolen articles •include some 17 shirts, several pains of socks, men's drawers, towels, etc. Several of tihese: articles have not :been claimed, and peopla who have 'massed such things are .reauested to call at the Police Station.