MAGISTRATE’S COURT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 11

MAGISTRATE’S COURT

BURGLARY CHARGES YOUNG MAN ADMITS OFFENCES A charge of converting a car to his own use and several charges of burglary were preferred against Peter McNicol, labourer, aged 24 years, before Messrs J. Morrison and E. Lloyd, J.P.’s, in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The charges were converting a car valued at £3OO and belonging to R. C. Millward, to his own use at New Plymouth on August 25; that on August 25, at Westmere, with entry by night and stealing £1 10s in notes, 7s 6d postal notes, cigarettes, set of bowls and bag, valued at £8 2s 6d, the property of Thomas Ayling; on or about August 25, at Waitotara, breaking and entering by night and stealing about 4s, a suitcase and contents, total value £3 11s, silver, the property of William Alexander Hurley, and another, on or' about August 25, at Waverley, break-' ing and entering by night and stealing two cheques and £3, total value £24 3s, the property of R. P. Palmer and Son.

On the New Plymouth charge De-tective-Sergeant Robertson asked for a remand to New Plymouth on Tuesday next, which was granted. In regard to the theft from Palmer and Son, Waverley, William T. Holmes, shop assistant, said that a window of the shop door was broken. Drawers in the office had been rifled, and a lock was also broken on a garage at the back. William Alexander Hurley, of Waitotara, stated that a window of his office had been forced open. Petty cash belonging to one of the drivers was missing. A screw-driver had been used on the window. A suitcase and contents, the property of a Maori, was missing from a locker. Thomas Ayling, grocer, Westmere, said a fanlight over the front door had been broken and the back door had been opened. He missed the money set out in the charge; also his set of bowls. Detective S. C. Brown, Wellington, said he interviewed accused in September and he admitted the offences. He stated that he took the car from New Plymouth and on the way through to Wanganui committed the

burglaries. On the way to Wellington he threw the bowls into a river and abandoned the car near Wellington. He also threw the suitcase and contents into a river which he thought was the Rangitikei. Accused pleaded guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court at Auckland for sentence.