THE AUCKLAND BURGLARIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3584, 25 July 1912, Page 7

THE AUCKLAND BURGLARIES.

TWO MEN COMMITTED. TREE PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, July 24. Paul Eugene Serim and Daniel Murphy (alias Reynolds) were this morning at the police- court charged with having on June 20 broken and entered the office of tlie Great Northern Brewery in the Khyber Pass with intent to commit a crime. Chief Detective McMahon prosecuted and accused were not represented by counsel.

Evidence was given by employees of the front door of the office having been found open on the morning of June 21 as well as the window of the telephone room, while the keyhole of the strong room was found plugged with gelignite. Detective Powell gave evidence of an interview he and Detective jammings had with Murphy on June 27 last, and also as to an interview they had that evening with Serim. When they arrested him the latter said he had known Murphy in Wellington. Murphy’s statement was re.ro to him, and lie said “It’s a lie!”

Witness den.icd evidence given previously as to the finding -of torches, a key, a jemmy, a revolver and other things in Scrim’s house. Later that evening Serim made a statement when lie was at 'the detective’s office and was arrested. The statement made by Murphy was to tlie effect that about 16 months previously he had met a man. named “Gus” on Wellington wharf. He had met him since, but did not know vis name. Between 9 and 10 on the morning of the attempt on the safe of the Great Northern Brewery he met “Gus” on Queen Street wharf. “Gus” asked deponent to meet him at 7.30 that evening at tlie top of Symonds Street, remarking in respect to the safe at tlie Great Northern Brewery, that thev would go down and give it a crack. They walked to the brewery and got in by" the office window, whih was partly open. “Gus” went into the office and lie (.uiirphy) went and watched. “Gus” had shown him half a plug of gelignite, about a foot of fuse and a dynamite cap, which be had. After being in the office about three-quarters of an hour “Gus” came out and said the cap was too largeSerin took a car up the Khyber Pass and Murphy walked borne. Serin, in his statement, said that he came from Wellington in October last. When he met Murphy on the wharf the latter said: “How are you doing, Gus?” and asked him if ho would take a job, remarking that it was a “tank” —meaning a safe. Idle statement agreed with Murphy’s so far as meeting and going to the brewery were concerned, but then differed.

Serin said he had a revolver, cartridges and a jemmy. When they entered the office Murphy pulled some gelignite from big pocket and filled the keyhole of the safe and handed Serin a detonator, But he could not fix it and becoming afraid they walked out through the front door. After Detective Cummings had corroborated the evidence of Deteciivo Powell Serin pleaded “guilty” am: Reynolds “not guilty.” 'they were committed to the Supreme Court, the former for sentence and the latter for trial.