WAERENGA-A-HIKA BURGLARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2244, 16 July 1908, Page 2

WAERENGA-A-HIKA BURGLARY.

ACCUSED MEN AT COURT. STARTLIN’G EV IDENCE. At tho Arugiotrute’a Court yesterday .morning there was a largo attendance ol : tlio public, when, before Air. AV. A. Barton, S.M., Edward Boniface, Joseph Johnson, and James Keegan wore charged that, at AVao-renga-a-hika, on April 22, 1908, they did break and enter tins premises of one Hubert Colebrook, and commit theft therefrom of one tin cash-boss, containing £l9 in money and £2l in cheques, alto a tin deed-box. Upon tlie application of Sergeant Ilutton, the separate charge against Boniface was withdrawn. Air. Stock appeared for accused Boniface. Accused Johnston asked that tlio ease be remanded as lie bad only been brought from Christchurch that morning, and had no time to prepare his defence. .Sergeant Hutton stated that both men bad boon informed on the 10th inst. that they were to come to Gisborne, and no mention had been made by accused as to requiring a solicitor. Air. Stock said that his client had been waiting for tbleo weeks for the other men to arrive, and be (counsel) thought'- that an adjournment would be unfair to bis client. His AVorsbip decided to allow tlie ease-to go oil, and if necessary Johnston could make application later on. Robert Colebrook, .storekeeper, AA’aoronga-a-.liika, stated that life private dwelling house was situated about four chains from his store. On 22nd April last, he returned, to bed at about 10.30 p.m., occupying the front bedroom. He put his clothing across a chair alongside the foot of the bed. In the pockets of bis -trousers were -some money and bis keys, comprising the key of the store.‘of the safe, and various other keys. Witness was not sure if the key of the deed box was on the ring with the others, and lie identified the keys, produced, as his property. AVlieil lie 1 ist saw them they were in the pocket of Jiis trousers. Before returning, witness,locked the back door of the store, and fastened nil the other doors on tlio inside, by lock and bolt. Oil getting up next morning at 6.30 a.in., witness noticed that his white shirt was on tlie floor, a most unusual thing. After having a bath, are' on getting dressed he found son.-, more of his clothes in the front doorway, and Ids vest and trousers on the verandah. On searching the trousers pocket ho found them empty, and then went over to the store. He found the gate leading from tlio house to tile store open, and also the back door of the store. On examination witness saw that tho lock of tho door was broken and found a sjiado outside the store, and a crowbar inside. Inside the storo witness discovered that his cash-box and his deed box bad been taken away from tho safe. The cash-box contained cheques to tho amount of £26 odd and about £l9 in cash, made up of notes, gold and silver. Tlio deed-box contained a number of deeds and insurance papers and also a number of private papers. AA’itness at oneo notified tlie police of his loss. The boxes; produced, were his property, -and when the boxes were found on April 24 he was present with John AVatton, in whose paddock they were discovered, about ten chains from the store. Tlio boxes were subsequently taken possession of by Detective Rawle. AVitness knew the accused Boniface, but neither of the others. The tills under the counter had also been rifled, all except the. coppers being taken; but he did not miss anything else. Tlio amount in the till was about £2 10s.

Frederick Parsons, dairyman of Ormond, said that lie knew tlie three accused. On the night the store was broken into they were residing at his bouse at Ormond, Keegan and Boniface slept in a wli-ure outside tlio house, and Johnston', witness and liis wife occupied the house. He la6t saw accused on April 22 between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. On the morning of the 23rd inst witness went in to breakfast about 10 a.m., and saw tlie three -accused at tho table. Johnston then paid for board for himself and Keegan, tendering three £1 noteß and six shillings. Ip addition to this Johnston said: “AA’e went down to AA aorenga-a-hika to Colebrook’s last night-, and we had -a iob to open the door.” Johnston also said that there was a spade and a crowbar there, with which they had' opened the door. Keegan was present when Johnston made these statements. The letter (produced) was witness’ property and had been written to him by liis brother-in-law (the accused Johnston). -In consequence of the receipt of the letter witness eommunifonted with Detective Rawle, who (came out to Ormond, and together .they found the keys mentioned as having been thrown into the water closet at liis house.

Martin Parsons, wife of the previous witness, said that on the morning following the burglary at-Cole-brook’s store, Keegan said to -her that ho and Joo had been for a ramble the night before. At this time Johnston was outside the house and not within hearing. John Parsons, ranger and drover, Ormond, said that lie knew accused Boniface, and had seem the other two. In the afternoon of April 22nd he saw Johnston and Keegan, between 3'p.m. and 4 p.m., near the AVaerenga-a-liik-a hotel. Air Colebrook was standing with two other men talking in the middle of tlio road between the store anil the hotel. . Later, witness saw the accused Boniface in tho gaol, when he (Boniface) ilia do the following statement: “About 10 p.m. on the night of April 22, I, Johnston and Keegan went to AAoierenga-a-hika. Johnston said to me, ‘You know tlie lay about this place,’ and then all three of us went to tho store. I and Johnston went to Colebrook’s house, anil Keegan stayed out in front to see if anybody came along. AYo went to the house to get Colebrook’s keys.” In answer to a question as to why lie, had gone to the store. Boniface said to witness that if he (witness) had been covered with a revolver lie would have done the same. Continuing, - .Boniface said, “I and Johnston went into Colebrook’s bedroom and Johnston pointed to me to-pick up Colebrook’s clothes, and then Johnston" walked out of the room backwards, with a revolver aimed at Colebrook. Johnston took tho keys out of Colebrook’s pocket rand the two of us went into tlie store. Johnston took a spade and crowbar and broke tlie back door open with a spade, and we went inside, taking the crowbar, and stood it against the safe while we tiled the keys, one of which they found to Jit. AA’e took the cash-box-out and found it to contain cheques, money deeds, and various papers. Johnston gave me £2 out of £l9 that was there. The other man, Keegan, only kept watch ill this time. AA’e left the cheques, deeds, and papers, in the boxes and threw them away.” Boniface further told witness that lie was telling the truth, blit could not say why lie did not inform the police, and that tho boxes were thrown into a paddock -alongside the hedge. , Sidney Rawle, detective, stated that on tho 23rd. April last, in consequence of information received, he went to Colebroo'k’s store. On examining the premises lie found that a spring lock on the hack door bad been broken, and on the door-frame there were marks such as would be caused by a spade. Tlie spade (produced), was standing by the back door. On April 25, in consequence of further information, be went to AVatton’s paddock, and there found the deed and cash boxes. On June 25, in company with Constable Doyle, lie interviewed the accused Boniface with reference to the present offence, when he (Boniface) made a statement which witness took down in writing and got accused Boniface to sign it. Tho statement was produced as follows: “Edward Boniface, laborer, working for Air Caesar. Ormond. —On the night of April 22 Joe .Johnston came to me and said, ‘Come down the road with Keegan and me. AVe were walking. AVe walked to AVae-•renga-a-hika, aud when we got there

Johnston said, ‘'Whore’s Colebrook’s place?’ Joe ashed mo to go to Colebrook’s private house, which is at the back of Colobrook’s store. I went to see if there were any lights in the house. I came back to Johnston, and said, ‘There’s no light,’ and lie replied. ‘Tli it’s all right.’ This would bo about 11 p.m. or midnight. Johnston then asked me if 1 was game to -do anything. 1 said 1 didn’t know; 1 had a good character. Johnston then suggested to mo that ho and 1 should go and get Colebrook’s trousers. Keegan being outside‘on tho watch. I stepped into Colehrook’s bedroom. Colebrook was asleep. I took liis trousers, edit and vest, and ran out and handed the clothes to Johnston, and he got the keys. Keegan then joined us, and we went over to the store. Johnson broke the hack door open with a spado, and Joe then went in by himself. Joe came out shortly afterwards with two tin boxes. We all then wont up the road and into a paddock, Wootton’s 1 think, and Joe broke open tho boxes with his hoots. Joe got some money, and tho following morning gave-mo £2 as my share of the theft. ’ On June 20th. witness was present at the police gaol when Boniface’s uncle had an interview with him. Boniface then repeated the statement made to witness, adding, ■that when Johnston went to - the store he and Keegan stopped hi the passu go by the store. On July 2, In consequence of further information, witness, with Prod Parsons, recovered the keys mentioned from the night-soil tin at the premises occupied by Prod Parsons.' On the same date witness received from Pred Parsons the letter from Johnston. To Mr. Stock: Accused Boniface in his statement to John Parsons said :—“You would have done it too, uncle, if you had been covered with a revolver like I was.” Constable Doyle said that lie was present at the interview between accused Boniface and Detective Rawlc. The statements attributed to Boniface wer6 made and signed hv him in witness’ presence. Accused Johnston again applied for a remand, but His Worship decided not to grant- it. He, however, allowed accused to call witnesses if ho desired to do so. Accused Johnston intimated his desire to call the oilier accused Boniface, who was accordingly put into the box. In reply to questions by accused, Johnston, Boniface stated that the evidence given by _ John Parsons was incorrect, where it referred to. the revolver being pointed at Colebrook. Johnston had never presented a revolver at him (witness) and he ..had not told anyone that Johnston had pointed the revolver at Colebrook. He bad not told anyone that Johnston had forced him to go into Colebrook’e store, but lie had said that ho was asked to go. To Sergt. Hutton: He did not carry a revolver on April 22. Johnston had one, and had it in his hand when witness came out of Colebrook’s house. The evidence of John Parsons and Detective Rawlc was absolutely untrue when it related to his statement about tho revolver. He was so afraid of Johnston that he did not dare to disobey him when told to go into Colebrook’s house. lie-examined by accused Johnston: The revolver -was a shiny one, but he could not say whether it was hammerless or not. He would swear it was a revolver. Accused Boniface pleaded guilty and was committed for sentence to the next sitting of the Supreme Court to be held in Gisborne. Bail was allowed, accused in £IOO, and two sureties of £SO each or one suretv in £IOO. Accused Johnston and Keegan pleaded not guilty and reserved their defence. Both were committed for trial to the next sitting of the Supreme Court to be held in Gisborne.