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AY, NOVEMBER 1, 193S!-STORE BURGLEDCharges of RobberyCOURT HEARINGA robbery at the premises of Kerrs’ Pty. Ltd., In High-street, West Maitland, at the week-end Octobor 1-3, was the subject of charges of breaking, entering and 3tooling against Thomas Patrick Michael O'Keefe (IS) and Ronald (ieorce Coulton (22), at the Wes' Maitland Police Court today. The value of the men's clothing alleged to have boen ntolon was £38.Mr. W. J. Enright appeared for Coulton, and Mr. N. Nelson for O'Keefe.Dotoctive-Conntable D. G. Sutherland Btntod that about LV.30 on October IS he naw Coulton at his home in Rose-atreot, West Maitland, and told him ho wished to question him regarding noma property they took from a man named Peacock at KurrJ. Coulton wa3 taken to tha police station. where witness said to him that Kerr's shop had been broken into. Ho told Coulton that they hnd recovered ft sports coats, two palra of trousers, three shirts and a pair of shoes from Peacock,Witness told Coulton that Peacock Bald ho got the nrtlcleB from him (Coulton) that day, and that Coulton told him they camo from Kerr's robbery. In reply to Coulton, wltnoss said Peacock had made n written stato-ment.To tell you tho truth,” the constable alleged tbat Coulton told him, that. In all I handled from Kerr's. He would not say who told him It came from ICerr’e. Coulton would not make a statement and said he would say no more until he got advice from his solicitor.In reply to Mr. Enright, witness said that no goods wcro found hi Coulton’a possession and the only coods Coulton mentioned had buou recovered. A hoy was to be charged In the Children’s Court with breaking and entering. He said that two wore concerned In the breaking and entering, but Coulton wan not one of them. The hoy was 17. The boy said that the rob hery took place about 3 p.m. on the Sunday afternoon.QUESTIONED BY POLICEConstable I). McMillan said In company with other police, he saw O'Keefe at his homo about 1 p.m. on October 17 and told him they wore Inquiring Into Kerr’s robbery. He told O'Keefe th_nt they had information, which, if true, implicated him and a hoy named McCIoy. O'Keefe said he know nothing about It.They told him thut a boy named Ring had told them that he (O'Keefe) and McCIoy committed the robbery. O’Keefe was taken to the police station and further questioned. O'Keefe said ho would like to see Ring, who was then brought In, and in reply to a question said that O'Keefe told him that he (O’Keefe) and McCIoy broke into tho shop. O'Keefe said’ All right.He added, I will tell you the truth. We broke Into the shop and took the clothes. He took them to a building uoa. the Shot! depot, from which he brought two cases containing clothing. This one, be added, in mine, and the other McCloy's share.When shown a crowbar at the police station on October 25, O'Keefe said it looked like one they usod to break into the premises.Answering Mr. Nelson, witness said a statement In writing had been made by Ring. Ho did not say he was the actual perpotrator of the robbery at the Grand Central Hotel.JUVENILE OFFENDERSRing had not been charged with an offence. The police were not using him as an Informer. He was 1G years of age and In the case of offenders of that age, the police lmd to make a report. That had boon done. He did not know If Ring was to he called as a witness; he was not preparing the cane.To Sergeant Yeomans: There was a file of papers in connection with Ring and tho Grand Central Hotel.Elwood George Till, n draper, gave evidence that he securely locked Kerr's promises on October 1.David Laing, block nightwatchnian. said ho examined tho back of Kerr's premises, and found that a door had been forced open.Charles Y. Kerr, general manager of Korr’s Pty. Ltd.. said that on the morning following tho discovery of the robbery, tho value of goods mlealna was given as £38, but a further chock had brought the mttouuL to £7G.In reply to Mr. Nelson, ho said that stock-taking had been completed on July 31. It was possibly, but not probable, that In the meantime some of tho goodo had boon lost.Answering the Police Magistrate he said the value of tho articles the police said were recovered from Peacock would he about. £6/10/.Theo Raymond Crittenden, mercer, employed by Kerr’s Ply. Ltd. identified a number or the articles produced as those stocked by the firm. Others were similar to what were in the store on Octobor 1.Mrs. Elisabeth Peac-ick, of Hope-toun-strcet, Kurri. Bald Coulton won her son-in-law. Coulton called at her place on October IS, spoke to her son, and they wont away. When they returned Coulton wan carrying a sugar-bag, In which wor: noma of tho articles produced. He put thorn on her son's bed.Cross-oxamlned by Mi. Enright, Bhe said her son wps at homo on October 2, and she had not aeon him in the company of Coulton prior to October 18. Her son was unemployed at the beginning of the month.Thomas Rowland Dodevor, winch-drivcr, of .»urrl, said on October 18 he saw Coulton. wto called at his place and asked witness to dri c him to the Buchnnon-road. Peacock was with him, and they drove out. Coulton went to n hounc, and returned with a BUgar-bng.When near Kurri Kurri on the way home, Coulton snid something about a suit length. lie thought It was. I will give you a suit length and you can have It made up.21doohco°-5tiltve811KitwspfoiwiannoIS.Ihwlfr«to:ho£toPiheMr. Enright said there was no ©vi- ca
Newspaper Details
Maitland Daily Mercury
Maitland, New South Wales, AU
Tue, Nov 01, 1938
Page 3
Full Page
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AU 24 Jul 2022
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