HAMILTON BURGLARY

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14712, 29 July 1921, Page 5

HAMILTON BURGLARY

YOUNG BEFORE THE COURir. The case in which John Young was charged with breaking and entering the premises of Bernard Kissen, pawnbroker, Ward Street, and stealing ' therefrom jewellery valued at £IOB 15s, was continued at the Police Court, Hamilton, yesterday afternoon. Finding of the Jewellery.

David Henry Sutton, a police constable, stationed at Hamilton, said that on July 23, at 2 p.m., he w-as searching at the racecourse, when he found a swag in the ticket-box. Constable Claasen, who was assisting in the search, turned up a sod, underneath, which was a quantity of the stolen jewellery. Witness arrested accused on July 20th on a charge of vagrancy. The swag found in the ticket-box contained two caps, a coat, and a piece of candle. The door of the ticket-box was not locked, but a small box bad been placed against the window. When prisoner was searched at the police station he had in his possession 9s 6d, but no vs#»+atch or jewellery. » . Constable Claasen was the next witness. Witness said he found a paper watch-tag, produced, on July 23 outside the ticket-box at the Hukanui road entrance of the racecourse. In a neatly scooped-out hole at the 'back of the ticket-box, wrapped up in a piece of towelling and carefully covered over with a sod, witness found the missing jewellery. On the 2-ith witness asked accused to explain his movements on the 20th inst. Accused made a statement denying all knowledge of the burglary. Detective Sweeney gave evidence that he was present on the 24th July when Constable Claasen questioned accused as to his movements on the 20th July. Witness was also present when the statement was made and signed by accused. On 25th July Constable Claasen showed prisoner the swag, produced, and accused said that it was his (prisoner's) swag. Constable Claasen then showed prisoner the towel. .Prisoner said "that is my towel." Constable Claasen mentioned to accused some of the evidence against him, and showed him the jewellery, saying that it was found wrapped up in the towel. Accused looked surprised and said nothing for awhile. He then said, "well, what nljout it?" Constable Classen then formally read to prisoner the charge against him. After the formal document had been read accused said, "you can put that down to my account."

"I Should Have Hopped ft." A man who had been in company with prisoner after his arrest gave evidence that prisoner had told him (hat the police had found his (prisoner's) swag and the jewellery. Prisoner also told witness that the police had found the swag in a ticket-office at the racecourse, and the jewellery straight out and about four feet from the ticketbox. Witness remarked to prisoner that he thought the jewellery had been found at the railway station. He had gathered this from the papers. Prisoner, however, replied, "no, it was found by the ticket-box at the racecourse." Prisoner also added, "I should have hopped it, and not come back to the town again." Prisoner also declared that he had never been to the Supreme Court before and would iiu, get more than 12 or 18 months. Witness said, in answer to a question by the prosecution, that there had been no collusion between turn and the police that he should endeavour to extract evidence from prisoner. Committed for Trial.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Hamilton, commencing on September 6th.