BUSH WORKER FOR TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 186, 5 August 1944, Page 7

BUSH WORKER FOR TRIAL

BREAKING, ENTERING AND THEFT ALLEGED

After pleading no guilty in the Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, yesterday, to two charges of Breaking and entering and theft, Leo Sylvester Hannan, aged 44, bushworker, described as having no fixed abode, was committed for trial at the session of the Supreme Court which opens in Wanganui next Monday. It was alleged that accused stole a cycle valued at £lO from Chainey Bros., and four pairs of shoes and other articles, valued at £7 14s 6d, from Lunnon’s Shoe Service. The case was heard before Messrs. G. Murch and J. McFarlane, J.'sP. Constable C. Dudley prosecuted. Evidence of closing the building at 11 p.m. on August 1 was given by Clifford Esmond Chainey, who added that next morning he discovered that the netting on a wire gate han been cut and a cycle taken. This cycle had been left by a customer and while on the premises was the responsibility of the firm.

The arrest of accused was described by Constable G. E. Chapman, Palmerston North, who said that following a message from Wanganui on Wednesday afternoon he went to Awahuri and met accused riding a cycle. Hanna did not stop and witness headed him off four times before ne finally turned into a driveway. Accused was subsequently found hiding in a clump of boxthorn.

Witness added that accused told him that he had met a man near Feilding who appeared “to have the wind up,” and who had given him the cycle. Accused said he had previously met this man in prison, but did not know his name. Hannan also said he had obtained the shoes from the same man. The shoes were in a sack, which accused threw away when witness approached.

On the morning of August 2 he discovered that a pair of steps had been taken outside the shop, and that two pairs of pincers, four pairs of shoes, and a leather strap were missing, said George Henry Lunnon, manager of the Lunnon Shoe Service, Guyton Street. The hack door of the premises was open, and a ladder had been placed against the wall of the yard to give access to Chainey’s premises. Accused reserved his defence, and was committed for trial. He was not represented by counsel.