THE BURGLARY CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 35, 10 February 1909, Page 5

THE BURGLARY CHARGES.

WABEHOUSEi AiND OTHER THEFTS. CASES IN POLICE COURT; rri . ■ r : laiAii.■V^.-; •■" Ait.the -Police .Court this* morning Patrick Knqx, Edward Knox, William Kaox, George Mack; Arthur Johnston, Walter Barrett, and William Preston, were charged that on or about January 30 they did break andl enter the warehouse of and Company, and steal therefrom silk, etc., to the value of ;£ 42 12/2, and enter the warehouse of-William H. Heather, and steal six quarts; of champagne and six quarts of gin, of;a total value of £6 3/-. :'■ Mr. Hackett appeared for Patrick Knox, and Walter Preston and Mr. Singer for Walter Barrett.

Chief-Detective Marsack outlined the case. Hβ said that Heather's and Mackay's were, in the pne building. On January 30, or about that date* the warehouses were broken into. The padlock on the outer door had been \yrench*d off. -On "February 1 the property described in the 'information ■was missed. The police were called, and later in the day Sergeant Ramsey and' Detectives Ghivas and Scott went into the house of Patrick Knox, and found there some of the stolen property. John Ernest Morton, an insurance clerk, employed by Macfcay and Heather, who hold the agency for the Northern Insurance Company, stated that he-locked up about 1.15 on the Saturday afternoon, and* everything was .then right. ' .. i

Thos. Mackoy, head of the firm Mackay and disposed that when, he. arrived at about 7.30 a.m. on Monday morning, he found the front door open. In. the warehouse there was a number of empty boxes on the floor; the place had (been ransacked. Hβ found a salt bag on the floor half full of 'platedware. He examined' the stock, and missed the articles" named in the charge. Those he yalued at £42 12/2. The padlock of the 'front door,- he found on the doorstep. Later he found a jemmy on the premises.'v ;■••• Evidence was given by Mrs Joseph Winter, who stayed at Patrick Knoxfs place on the Saturday night (January SO), i She said that she was in bed with Mrs Knox when, at about 6.30 in the morning, William Knox ..came into the room carrying three shirts. Patrick Knox was then asleep' In another room. He had no opportunity of knowing the shirts were in the room. She did not know if he went out during the night. Evidence was given by the officers who arrested the accused, after which the solicitors engaged submitted that there was no case against their clients. Detective Marsack said that the absence of evidence connecting the men re-ferred-'tb by counsel with the crime, did not necessarily acquit them. All parties to an offence.were guilty of an offence. Barrett and Johnston were often in the house where the stolen property was secreted, and therefore there was a case for- them to answer. There was a very strong case against Patrick Knox. : J The accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial.

A £35 THEFT. Edward Knox, William Knox, and George Mack were then charged that/ on: or about January 28, they did break and enter the shop of Henry Jones and steal three bird cages with birds, valued at £35 8/, the property of Moss Dally. .The case for,the prosecution was that Dally, who-is .a commercial traveller, left the cages at Jones', in Wyndhamstroet, and from there they were stolen. Next morning Edward Knox went to a fruiterer's in Patteson-street, and engaged a room which was advertised, to let. He there brought the three cages, in which he was , assisted by two other men said to be the accused.

The.brothers Knox were identified by the fruiterer (a young -woman) and a young brother, but they were not positive about Mack. The fruiterer said that to the best of her belief' Mack-was the third person. ' ■ > The accused were committed to the Supreme Court.for trial. They reserved their defence. AN AUCTION ROOM THEFT. William Knox and George Mack were charged with breaking and entering the auction rooms of Robert Charles Carr, and stealing a hat, a pipe, and a magnifying glass,' the value of which was 10/-. This 'was another case of an outer door padlock having been wrenched. Two doors had been tried, and entrance obtained by the side door. The till had been forced, and a cheque for £11 18/4 taken. The cheque had been cashed at the Imperial Hotel. The wife of Patrick Knox gave evidence that a hat bearing the name of R. C. Cart and the magnifying glass were taken into her house. The hat was being worn by "Bill" Knox. Evidence was given by Detective Chi"v.as that he found the pipe in William Knox's pocket. The accused again pleaded not guilty, and reserved their defence. They were committed for trial. CHARACTERS OF THE ACCUSED. ■AH the accused were remanded till Friday on charges of being idle and disorderly persons habitually consorting with reputed thieves and prostitutes. ' Mack protested that they had already been eight days on remand. He wanted the cases heard at once. It was remarked by the "Bench that it would not make much difference to the accused. ■ Mack: Yes; but a man could be doing part of his s time. The Bench: That looks as though yon want "time." 'Mack: Well, if a map's going to be convicted}- he might' as well be doing some of his time, so that he'll get out quicker. ■ ■ ' •