POLICE COURT
FURTHER CHARGES TO FOLLOW
Joseph Muldownie, Leslie Pearce, and Bruce Imrie were charged with breaking and entering the Fernhill Club on August 28 last and stealing therefrom goods to the value of £l7, the property of Charles James Beecroft and others.
The Chief Detective, in asking for a remand until Friday next, said there was a possibility that several other serious charges would be preferred. The men had only been arrested last evening by Detectives Roycroft and Sneddon. The remand asked for was granted. -Evening Star, 3/9/1926.
YOUNG MEN SENTENCED
CHARGES OF BREAKING AND ENTERING
TWO SENT TO GAOL: ONE RELEASED ON PROBATION
Three prisoners came before His Honor Mr Justice Sim this morning for sentence — Leslie Pearce, twenty-two years of age, three charges of breaking and entering; Joseph Muldownie, twenty-two, two charges of breaking and entering; Bruce Imrie, twentyfour, four charges of breaking and entering.
Mr A. C. Hanlon said he had been asked by the mother of Pearce to appear. She realised that there were no extenuating circumstances, and that no leniency could be expected. Pearce had already undergone a term of reformative detention, and had been released by the Prisons Board. During his term of release upon probation his conduct was good. It was recognised that the proper course would be for him to serve another term of reformative detention. There was one matter which was concerning the mother: that was that Pearce was suffering from stomach and bowel trouble, and required an operation. It was thought that he might be sent to hospital before he went to gaol. At any time he might be struck down with the trouble.
The Crown Prosecutor (Mr h. B. Adams) said the police doctor did not regard the operation as urgent. It might become urgent.
The probation officer (Mr F. Cumming) then handed in his reports. In the case of Pearce and Muldownie he did not recommend probation on account of their history, but suggested they should undergo reformative treatment. In the case of Imrie he believed something could be done with him, and for him, if he were granted probation. It was stated that his trouble was due to his association with Pearce.
Mr Adams said that if probation were granted to Imrie the question of expenses should be considered. They went a little further than appeared in the charges. In the case of the Fernhill Club thefts, £7 had had to be spent on new locks and keys. In addition to the stolen goods from Cooper’s and Rossitor's, new windows had had to be put in. If Imrie were granted probation be should pay the whole of the expenses, which amounted to about £48 5s.
The Probation Officer said he saw no reason why Imrie should not pay the expenses. He was strong, and a good workman.
Muldownie, who was not represented by counsel, had nothing to say.
Imrie, who also was not represented, said: “I wish to say that in the Cooper's business I was the instigator of it. It was at my instigation that Leslie Pearce broke into that place."
His Honor: “It is not desirable for Imrie to make his case worse than it is since he is getting probation. His Honor added that in respect to Pearce and Muldownie the best course would be for them to undergo a term of reformative detention for three years. In the case of Pearce it seemed desirable that he should be operated upon before he went away.
Mr Adams: “I understand they will have the means of dealing quite well with him in the prison hospital."
His Honor ordered Imrie to be released on probation for a term of three years, conditions being that he make restitution in regard to the damage done and the goods stolen, and that he pay the costs of the prosecution (£6 1s) within three months. -Evening Star, 14/9/1926.
ONE HECTIC WEEK
Daring Young Thieves Bowled Out
(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Rep.) Goaded on by the apparent simplicity of their crimes, three Dunedin youths spent a hectic week. By applying a little knowledge of the doings of the manager of the Fernhill Club, where one of them had previously been employed, they decided to stage a raid while that gentleman was not at home.
The story of their nocturnal visit is best told in the words of Charles James Beecroft, manager.
On the night of August 27 he left the club about 9.15 p.m. On. his arrival next morning he found that the drawer m his desk had been forced open and rifled, while a number of things were missing, including an overcoat.
This haul brought the thieves about £24.
An excursion to the house of a Caversham resident on the afternoon of September 1 while that lady was shopping in town revealed the subtlety with which the thieves planned their raids. From here they made away with property to the value of £52 1s.
These constituted the chief hauls. A further charge of breaking and entering the premises of a tailor in Stuart Street, which netted £23, was brought against two of them.
The raids had caused consternation among business firms. Complaints had also been received of damage to shops.
So two astute gentlemen from the Dunedin detective office soon got on the track of the culprits, who made no bones about confessing to their crimes. Having had their fling and missed, they saw no object in beating about the bush and admitted the charges.
Detective Rycroft interviewed Joseph Muldownie on September 2 regarding the theft at the Fernhill Club, and the next day saw Bruce Imrie.
Both admitted having perpetrated the thefts; the latter was wearing the overcoat that was missing from the club.
Detective Seddon interviewed Leslie Pearce. The confessions of the three accused cleared up the matter of the raids and part of the stolen property was recovered, though some had been "placed" by the thieves.
Well-built and well-groomed, the trio were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. They appeared unperturbed, however, by the remarks of the judge, who sentenced Pearce and Muldownie to three years' reformative detention.
Imrie was released on probation for three years on the recommendation of the probation officer, who stated that he had been more of a "mug" than a thief and had been enticed away through bad company. -NZ Truth, 30/9/1926.
“GOOD-BYE”
MATES FAREWELL PRISONER
POLICE CHARGE FOLLOWS
Charged with attempting to hold communication with Leslie Pearce, a prisoner undergoing sentence, two young men, Bruce Imrie and J. S. McDonald, appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Police Court this morning.
Constable Coatsworth said that on the morning of September 15 there were two men about to go under escort to Christchurch, and witness was taking them into the railway station when the accused Imrie and McDonald pushed up to speak to Pearce. Witness separated and warned them, but they followed up and endeavored all the time to speak to the prisoner. Had there been any more delay the train would have been missed.
“I just wanted to shake hands with him,” said Imrie. “He was my mate, and it was only human nature that I should want to speak to him before he went away.”
McDonald said he was a schoolmate of Pearce’s.
It was stated that Imrie was concerned in the same case as Pearce, and was on probation.
“This is a serious matter,” said His Worship, “punishable by a fine of £20, or three months’ imprisonment. I will take all the circumstances into consideration: it was on the railway station, and there was no attempt to use force. I don’t wish to enter a conviction. Both charges will he dismissed.” -Evening Star, 1/10/1926.
POSED AS A DETECTIVE
Novel Scheme To Enforce Debt
MAGISTRATE PROVED LENIENT
(From "N.Z. "Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative). Since the days when prehistoric store-keepers chased "bad debts" with a fourteen pounder slab of stony persuasion, the question of how to extract from dilatory debtors has been the bane of a grocer's existence. .
CECIL HUBERT TOOLEY, of Dunedin, thought he had solved the problem the other day when he persuaded Leslie Pearce to assume the designation of a detective and accompany him along to Mrs. Napier, a late customer of Tooley's and now resident in St. Kilda.
Mrs. Napier, it appears, owed Tooley some £7 or £8 from the time she was dealing at the shop he previously occupied in Filleul Street. Tooley was unable to collect his money, and he got the brain- wave which brought Pearce into the picture in the role of "detective."
As to stature, Pearce looks just about as much like a New Zealand detective as a navvy resembles a Russian dancer.
Perhaps that was why Mrs. Napier did not "bite", when, the young man called upon, her and demanded to know what she was going to do about her debt to Tooley.
"They tried to bluff her, but were not successful. She has not paid since," remarked Chief-detective Cameron, when stating the details in connection with which Tooley pleaded guilty to counselling Pearce to assume the role of detective, and the latter admitted having falsely carried out the designation.
Mr. W. Hartstonge appeared for the two well-dressed young men, and stated that neither had been fully aware of the seriousness of their actions.
"It is quite true that she evades payments of debts, and apart from that she is a woman of indifferent character," Mr. Cameron added to counsel's remarks. Although liable to a penalty of £50 the accused were treated leniently on account of the circumstances, Mr W. H. Bundle, S.M. entering a fine of £4 and costs against Tooley, and in the case of Pearce convicted and ordered him to come up for sentence if called upon within six months.
"If there is any chance of this prejudicing his present position with the Prisons Board, a record of the proceedings can be forwarded to the authorities," observed his Worship, on learning that Pearce was out on licence from a term of imprisonment which did not terminate until October next. -NZ Truth, 27/6/1929.
BANK MANAGER ATTACKED
SENSATION IN NORTH-EAST VALLEY
AMMONIA SQUIRTED IN HIS EYES
PROMPT ACTION FOILS MARAUDER
A branch office of the Bank of New Zealand, situated in North road, Northeast Valley, was the scene this morning of what can only be construed as an attempted bank robbery.
It appears that Mr C. A. Thompson, manager of the North Dunedin branch of the bank, went to the North-east Valley office to do some work. Between 11.15 and 11.30 he was counting money and was working with the door closed. He had nearly completed his task, and was preparing to leave the premises, when he heard a knock at the door.
Thinking that perhaps a late comer had arrived to do business, he opened the door slightly — about a foot. Before him stood a man who was pointing at him something which at first sight he took to be a pipe. However, it transpired that the article was a water pistol, and, unfortunately for Mr Thompson, it was loaded with strong ammonia. The next thing he knew was that a stream of the liquid had been squirted into his face.
With great presence of mind the hanker slammed the door — one which locks automatically — in the face of the intruder, and ran out the back of the premises to inform the next-door neighbour. This happened to be Mr J. R. Baillie, who owns a delicatessen store. Mr Baillie immediately rang the police, and five minutes later Senior-sergeant Quartermain and Chief-detective Cameron were on the scene. They were at once followed by Sergeant Hall and a squad of detectives and plain-clothes men.
The marauder must have made his escape from the street as soon as the door was slammed, for nothing was seen of him.
Mr Thompson, suffering from shock and the effects of the ammonia, was attended by Mr H. L. Gallien, who has a pharmacy in the same street. Naturally he suffered considerable pain, but Mr Gallien was able to relieve him to some extent, and it is hoped that there will be no serious complications. -Evening Star, 31/3/1931.
A SECOND OUTRAGE.
AMMONIA SQUIRTED IN FACE.
GLASSES SAVE THE VICTIM.
(Per Press Association.). DUNEDIN, March 31. A second outrage of a similar nature to that which occurred at the north-east branch of the Bank of New Zealand this morning took place at Messrs Wimpenny Bros.’ service station at the corner of Portobello and Anderson’s Bay roads shortly after 8 o’clock this evening. Two men arrived at the station, and one went in and made inquiries regarding some electric bulbs from Mr H. Wimpenny, who was in charge. He then presented a syringe and squirted ammonia in Mr Wimpenny’s face. The latter fortunately was wearing glasses, which saved his eyes, and rushing at his assailant he pushed him, but the man and his companion made good their escape. It is considered likely that the perpetrators of the two attacks are the same.
BANK MANAGER’S INJURED EYE.
IN A SERIOUS CONDITION.
DUNEDIN. This Day. As a result of the outrage at the North-East Branch of the Bank of New Zealand yesterday, Mr Thompson’s right eye is in a serious condition. It is thought that the liquid used in the squirt may have contained some kind of acid, as well as ammonia. -Ashburton Guardian, 1/4/1931.
TRAIL OF CRIME
AMMONIA OUTRAGES APPARENTLY CLEARED UP
TWO MEN ARRESTED IN TIMARU
The apprehension of two men concerned in several disturbing incidents in the city and country districts during the past week will (it is stated) clear up two alarming attempts at robbery perpetrated in Dunedin on Tuesday last, and set the public mind at rest. These men are Leslie Richmond Henderson and Leslie Pearce, and their arrest at Timaru yesterday — the result of' efficient police work — is (if the charges are proved) the sequel to a short but sensational career of crime. The major charges to be preferred against them are that they attempted to rob the North-east Valley agency of the Bank of New Zealand and Mr Wimpenny’s service station at South Dunedin, using corrosive fluid in both cases. Two water pistols were found in their possession, and one (or both) was (it is alleged) used to squirt ammonia in the faces of Mr Thompson and Mr Wimpenny.
Henderson and Pearce were arrested on a charge of theft of a motor car the property of Mr James Dixon, the conductor of the St. Kilda Band. Mr Dixon’s car was taken from outside the Regent Theatre on Tuesday evening (the day of the two attempted robberies) by them. They then hurried north, breaking and entering places at Palmerston and Hampden the same night. On Wednesday morning they went on to Timaru, and remained there that day, the car being parked in a back street to avoid detection. On Thursday evening they paid an eventful visit to Temuka, committing further burglaries in the premises of a coal merchant, a bootmaker, a grocer, a furnisher, a men’s outfitter, a garage, and a billiard saloon, entrance in each case being effected by using a tyre lever on the doors and windows. A large quantity of goods was taken from each place, but most of it was found in the possession of the two men when they were arrested. The manner in which they were secured reflects credit upon the organisation of the police. Acting upon certain information, Constable Brazier subsequently went to a garage in Timaru, where be noticed a strange car. At this time Pearce was in the garage, Henderson being in a house in Sarah street. The constable arrested Pearce, who gave the address at which Henderson was visiting, and immediately went on to Sarah street, where Henderson was taken.
Pearce and Henderson were to be charged with breaking and entering at Temuka this morning and remanded to appear at Timaru. From there they will be remanded to Dunedin, where they will be charged in connection with the attempted robberies and the theft of Mr Dixon’s car.
Mr Thompson, who was more severely injured than Mr. Wimpenny, is still suffering considerable pain as the result of the discharge of ammonia into his face, but his condition is improved. -Evening Star, 4/4/1931.
THREE YEARS GAOL
RECENT AMMONIA OUTRAGES
JUDGE DESCRIBES PERPETRATORS AS DANGEROUS AND UNSOCIAL
“These crimes were not the yielding to sudden temptation, but were deliberate, and seem to mark in both cases the culminating point in a long record of delinquency,” said His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court this morning before sentencing Leslie Richmond Henderson, aged twenty-five years, and Leslie Pearce, aged twenty-six years, to three years’ imprisonment each, with hard labour, on thirteen charges involving breaking and entering, attempting to break and enter, theft of a motor car, and using violence by squirting ammonia. His Honour added: “There is no course open to me but to treat you both as dangerous unsocial men and to protect the community from you.”
ADDRESSES BY COUNSEL.
Mr A. G. Neill, who (instructed by Mr L. R. Simpson) appeared for Pearce, said the prisoner was a single man, twenty-six years of age. From infancy he had shown a marked degree of mental deficiency, and had to be taken away from school when he was in the fifth standard owing to the fact that he often wandered off, slept out, and could give no account of where he had been. After leaving school the boy was sent on a hospital ship to England. He was away for six months and returned slightly improved in health. Pearce had not been at work again for long when he required medical attention. For a deficiency in the thyroid gland he received treatment. About that time his father and mother separated. In 1921 he appeared before the court on a charge of theft and was sentenced to reformative detention for three years. The accused was later released subject to medical observation. At that time a local board was set up in Dunedin to deal with the questions of segregation and sterilisation, and, acting upon advice, the mother placed him before the board, an operation being performed upon the boy in the hospital. In 1926 the accused again came before the court for breaking and entering and was sentenced to three years’ reformative detention. On his release from prison he joined a whaling expedition, and there came into contact with the prisoner Henderson. Eighteen months ago he came before the court on a charge of posing as a detective — an act which was ridiculous, because Pearce had neither the physique nor the mentality to masquerade as a detective. The mother said that Pearce was not of vicious habits, but he always lacked concentration and application and was not a worker. A local alienist who had examined Pearce described him as a degenerate. While the crimes involving the use of ammonia were callous, ill-conceived, and desperate, they were not the work of experienced and competent cracksmen but rather the work of callow, immature amateurs. The fact that Pearce seemed to show little or no sorrow for his acts indicated that he was not a normally-minded person. Whatever sentence was passed, counsel asked that the history of Pearce’s mental condition be placed before the Minister of Justice.
Mr C. J. L. White, who appeared for Henderson, said he had been asked by the parents of Henderson to say a few words on his behalf. As appeared from the probation officer’s report, the parents of that young man were eminently respectable people and were greatly grieved by his being brought before the court on such a disgraceful charge. Mr White had to admit that Henderson’s record was not a creditable one for a man twenty-five years of age, but the present was his first essay in any really serious crime. He was a married man with one child, but lived for only a few months with his wife. He was educated at various primary schools in Dunedin and took a course in blacksmithing at the Technical College. He went to work for a local blacksmithing firm, but he left that employment and worked for a firm making food and food essences. He embezzled money belonging to that firm, and took some tools which he pawned. He was brought before the court and sentenced to two years in the Borstal. While he was in that institution he was put to blacksmithing, and when released he was a fairly competent blacksmith, and he tried to obtain employment at that trade, but was unsuccessful. He took any employment that was forthcoming and his father thought that if he got into regular employment at that time everything would have gone well with him. Shortly after his release he made the acquaintance of his wife, and they had not been going together very long when they were married. The marriage was very unhappy and they lived together only six months. They separated and the wife went to live with her mother. A maintenance order was made for £l 17s 0d for the maintenance of the wife and child. At the time of his marriage Henderson was employed with Messrs Reid and Gray, and he worked there for some months after his marriage. He then lost that employment owing to men being put off, and then had to take what casual work he could get. After the separation Henderson got into arrears with his maintenance order, and was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment, which he served, and from that date his father said that he had commenced his second downfall. Up to that time his father was satisfied that Henderson had been making an honest attempt to make good as a result of the beneficial treatment he had received from the officers of the Borstal Institute. While in gaol he got among bad associates, and a few days after his release he was brought before the court on a charge of vagrancy and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. Since his release he had been unable to obtain any regular work. His parents said he was not a lazy boy, and would have taken work if he could have secured it. He then got a job on the whaling steamer Southern Princess, and it was on her that he unfortunately renewed the acquaintance of the accused Pearce. When he returned to New Zealand he drifted along doing any work that was offering. During the time he was away his child had been taken from his wife and had become a charge on the State. His wife’s maintenance had been taken away, and he was ordered to pay a guinea a week for the child. He was unable to obtain employment and was brought before the court just a month before the present offences were committed. He thought he had a chance of obtaining employment in Invercargill, and the case was adjourned for a mouth to enable him to make some arrangement to pay. He went to Invercargill and unfortunately he met Pearce. They came back to Dunedin immediately and commenced a career of crime. As far as the crime itself was concerned Mr White agreed with Mr Neill. It was a dastardly thing to do, and he was not saying anything in mitigation of the circumstances at all. Mr White emphasised that the ammonia was aimed not at the eyes of the unfortunate people, but at the mouths. His reason for mentioning that was that he had talked the matter over with Henderson and it seemed that he had heard, apparently from some of the criminal associates he had met in prison, that ammonia was a splendid thing to stupify anybody, and they had aimed it in the vicinity of the nostrils or mouth, thinking it would have the effect of an anaesthetic and would enable them to render a person unconscious without any serious result to life. Mr White did not think it was intended deliberately to blind the people concerned, as seemed to be the general impression of the public at large. Regarding the relationship between Pearce and Henderson, Mr White said it had been suggested that they were on a par, but he ventured to suggest that Pearce really appeared to have been the leader. Henderson seemed to have played the part of a waiting accomplice. Mr White appealed to His Honour to make the term of imprisonment he intended to impose as short as possible, as the crime was really the result of the unhappy marriage which ultimately brought about his downfall.
WHOLESALE CAREER OF CRIME.
The Crown Prosecutor (Mr F. B. Adams), before starting his address, handed in medical reports on the prisoner Pearce. He said he wished to draw His Honour’s attention to the very serious nature of the two charges of squirting ammonia for the purpose of rendering persons incapable of resistance. That, he was glad to say, was a form of crime that was very, very rare in the dominion, and it was a pernicious and exceedingly dangerous form of crime. He had no doubt that His Honour would take the view that it was a very serious offence indeed even though it happened that in both cases, the accused were unfortunate in their aim or lacked sufficient courage to follow up their attempt to make their robberies effective. The first attempt was made on a bank, in broad daylight, and it showed that the accused were after substantial money or they would not have attempted to hold up a branch of a bank. The accused proceeded the same day to carry out a similar offence in another part of the city. They were not in the least repentant, and still unsuccessful. They stole Mr Dixon’s motor car. That was not sufficient, for they carried out three offences of breaking and entering in Palmerston and also two more with which they were not charged, but which they admitted. That was eight crimes on the one day. Then a day or two later they were faced with a series of not less than seven charges in the course of one night in Temuka. Mr Adams submitted that it was obvious that the accused had embarked on a wholesale career of crime. They were not boys — one of his learned friends used that expression — but rather two mature men, their ages being twenty-five and twenty-six. With regard to Henderson, it had been suggested that the crime was owing to the pressure of the maintenance order, but he did not intend to pay that order with the proceeds of the crime because his first act was to escape from Dunedin and he was escaping from the order at the same time. Mr Adams submitted that the cases were very serious, and ought so to be treated by the court.
HIS HONOUR’S REMARKS.
His Honour, in addressing the prisoner Pearce, said his counsel had asked that certain recommendations be made to the Minister of Justice in order that inquiry might be made as to his mental condition. Counsel had referred in the course of his address to the fact that in the past Pearce had twice been sentenced for crime to terms of reformative detention, each for a period of three years. He had also referred to certain investigations as to the mental condition in the past, but there was before His Honour none of the evidence to which reference had been made. There was a provision in the Mental Defectives Act under which, if there was reasonable ground for believing that a confined person was mentally defective, an inquiry might be ordered by the Minister of Justice into the person’s state of mind. If counsel had in his possession evidence, then he might lay it before the Minister of Justice. That information was not before His Honour, but, assuming that such a request would be made, he would direct that the material before him be made available for consideration of the Minister of Justice when application was made. He would deal, therefore, with Pearce and the other prisoner as if the material had not been before him.
“You are both guilty on your own confession of a formidable list of serious crimes,” said His Honour, who detailed the charges. His Honour went on to point out that the offence of attempting to commit a crime by using violence was more serious than a crime involving dishonesty only. Both the prisoners procured water pistols, then one procured strong ammonia, and a few days afterwards, intending to rob a bank officer at North-east Valley, they proceeded there to carry out their design. Fortunately the bank officer wore spectacles, and also had the benefit of immediate attention, and was able to avert the not remote risk of blindness. They both appeared to be callously indifferent to the consequences, because that very night they renewed, fortunately with less success, the attempt they made at Anderson's Bay. The crimes were not those of yielding to sudden temptation, but were deliberate, and seemed to mark in both cases the culminating point in long records of delinquency. Alternative methods had been tried in the past of dealing with the prisoners, but without avail. There was no course open but to treat both as dangerous unsocial men, and to protect the community from them. On each charge of using violence by squirting the ammonia, the prisoners were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour. Upon three charges of breaking and entering at Palmerston the sentence was two years; upon six charges of breaking and entering at Temuka the sentence was two years; upon attempted breaking and entering at Temuka the sentence was two years; and upon the theft of a motor car the sentence was six months. The sentences were all made concurrent. -Evening Star, 23/4/1931.
SUSPECTED BURGLAR
ARRESTED AT REVOLVER POINT
LONG CHASE BY CIVILIANS
THREAT TO SHOOT ALLEGED
(Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, December 7. Bailed up by a constable after an exciting chase through the streets in the city fast evening, a suspect was arrested at the point of a revolver and relieved of his own loaded revolver. The man, it is alleged, was struggling to pull a gun from his pocket when he felt the pressure of the constable's revolver in his ribs.
The arrested man had been trailed by two civilians, who had heard suspicious noises in a shop in Selwyn street, One of them, it is said, was held up no fewer than four times in the course of the chase by the fugitive producing a revolver and warning him "to keep back or I'll shoot."
It was at the premises of the Selwyn Hosiery Company that the long chase started. At 10.30 an employee of the firm, Mr J. Cassin, was passing, and the suspicious movements of two men carrying suitcases attracted his attention. He and a friend, Mr N. Guy, went to intercept the men. The men dashed for a gate and clambered over it, still carrying suitcases, while one rushed along Burke street, opposite the Selwyn Hosiery Company.
The other hung back and drew a revolver. "Stand back, or I'll shoot," he said. Before Mr Cassin and his friend could recover from their surprise the second man joined his friend in Burke street, and they raced together up the street. Messrs Guy and Cassin gave chase, assisted by other civilians, and also sent a message that brought Constable B. W. Wootton off his beat in Carlyle street.
Nearing Madras street the constable secured a bicycle from a passing cyclist and followed the suspects. While transferring to the bicycle he lost eight of the pair, but through directions given he caught up with them again in Latimer square.
The constable arrived to find a civilian, Mr L. W. Piper, covered by a revolver by one of the suspects. The other had made off.
With the appearance of the constable the man took to his heels, but the constable caught up on him in Hereford street. The constable jumped off his bicycle and rushed up behind the man, who was struggling to pull his revolver again, and jammed his own revolver in the suspect's side.
The man was searched, and in his pocket was found a loaded revolver with a plentiful supply of ammunition.
As a sequel to the arrest Leslie Pearce, aged 30, a labourer, appeared this morning before the magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, charged with breaking and entering the premises of the Selwyn Hosiery Company, Selwyn street, with intent to commit a crime. He was remanded to December 11. -Otago Daily Times, 8/12/1934.
23 CHARGES.
Leslie Pearce in Court
WOODEND INCIDENT.
ALLEGED TO HAVE FIRED AT SHOPKEEPER.
Twenty-three charges were preferred against Leslie Pearce, a labourer, in the Magistrate’s Court this morning
It was alleged that he was concerned in the incident at Woodend on November 28, when a revolver was discharged at C. B. Bourne, a shopkeeper, and also that he presented a revolver at two other people on December 6, following an attempt to break and enter the premises of the Selwyn Hosiery Company. Other charges of breaking and entering and converting motor-cars to his own use were also preferred.
Pearce was represented by Mr Bowie. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., heard the case. Chief-Detective Dunlop conducted the prosecution. The details of the charges were: —
On December 6, 1934, broke and entered by night the Selwyn Hosiery Manufacturing Co.’s premises, 351 Selwyn Street, with intent to commit a crime; was found armed with a dangerous weapon, a revolver, with intent to break and enter a building; presented & firearm at William Victor Corman; presented a firearm at Leslie Walter Piper; on November 28, 1934, at Woodend, broke and entered Charles Bourke Bourne's shop with intent to commit a crime; on November 28, 1934, discharged a revolver at Charles Bourke Bourne with intent to do grievous bodily harm; on November 19, 1934, broke and entered the Self-Help Co-op. Ltd., a shop at Ferry Hoad, Woolston, and committed theft; on November 2, 1934, broke and entered the shop of Gordon Alfred Ernest Le Lievre, at Akaroa, and committed theft; on November 22, 1934, broke and entered the New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Association's shop at Rangiora and committed theft; on October 29, 1934, broke and entered the shop of Henry Kendall Forward, at Rangiora, and committed theft; on November 19, 1934, at Christchurch, attempted to break and enter the Self-Help Co-op. Ltd.'s shop at 66, Edgeware Road, with intent to commit a crime; on November 10, 1934, attempted to break and enter the shop of Thomas Hornsby at 4, Regent Street, with intent to commit a crime; on November 9, 1934, broke and entered the shop of Percy Ring at 517, Colombo Street, and committed theft; on November 9, at Christchurch, broke and entered William Cecil Lew’s shop at the corner of Colombo and Tennyson Streets with intent to commit a crime; on November 27, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £250, belonging to David McLaughlin to his own use; on November 22, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £339, belonging to Thomas Vickers; on October 29, 1934, converted a motor-car valued at £200, belonging to William Samuel Elmore Greenslade; on November 19, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £l30, belonging to Vernon Augustus Norris; on November 12, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £250, belonging to James Ainger; on November 19, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £300, belonging to Alexander Brown Struthers; on December 3, 1934, converted a motor-car, valued at £320, belonging to A. and T. Burt, Ltd.; on December 3, 1934, at Leeston, broke and entered the shop of The Farmers’ Co-op. Association of Canterbury, Ltd., and committed theft.
The charges relating to the Selwyn Hosiery Company were proceeded with first. To the charges of presenting a firearm at Gorman and Piper Pearce pleaded guilty. -Star, 15/1/1935.
ARMED BURGLARIES
A SALUTARY SENTENCE
FIVE YEARS’ IMPRISONMENT.
(Per United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, February 19. Leslie Pearce, for burglary and for committing offences when armed, was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by Mr Justice Johnston in the Supreme Court this morning. Pearce had been found guilty of discharging a revolver at a storekeeper at Woodend and also with breaking and entering a warehouse. Counsel said that the prisoner stated he carried a gun out of sheer bravado, and after the charges he had assisted in clearing up the cases.
His Honor said that the prisoner evidently deliberately preferred to obtain a living by criminal methods. Certainly he had no respect for the laws of the country. He had a long list of previous sentences and would have to be kept in goal for a considerable time, as he had reached the stage of committing armed burglaries. -Otago Daily Times, 20/2/1935.
Matamata. During the night of the 24th January last, the shop of JESSIE IRVING, hairdresser, was broken into and 8s. in money stolen. Suspicion is attached to Leslie Pearce, referred to in Police Gazette, 1938, page 812, and Photographs, 1926, page 91, who was boarding at the same house as complainant, and it is thought that he stole a duplicate key and entered the shop. He was interviewed and a statement obtained from him, but it was later ascertained that parts of his statement were untrue, and he is to be again interviewed. -NZ Police Gazette, 20/3/1940.
Matamata. Jessie Irving, shop broken into: Leslie Pearce, referred to in Police Gazette, 1938, page 812, and Photographs, 1926, page 91, has been interviewed by the Auckland police, but he is not the offender. (See Police Gazette, 1940, page 246.) -NZ Police Gazette, 2/10/1940.
FOUND ON ISLAND
GOODS VALUED AT £500
MAN CHARGED WITH THEFT
A sequel to the discovery of a large quantity of stolen material on the island of Motuora, off the coast at Mahurangi, was a series of charges of theft and receiving heard by Mr. Justice Blair and a jury to-day against Leslie Pearce (Mr. Haigh). There were eight charges of theft of three outboard motors, two dinghys, a radio, and a large quantity of engineer's welding tools and accessories of the total value of about £490, and two alternative charges of receiving.
Opening for the Crown, Mr. G. S. R. Meredith said the property concerned was of a wide variety, and considerable in quantity and value. Evidence would be given identifying the property as stolen goods, and showing that much of it had been stored at a place in Grafton Road, where the accused had lived between December, 1943. and March of this year. The evidence would also show that a quantity of the goods was removed from there in Pearce's motor car to Waiwera, and thence to Motuora Island, when it was later found by police and Customs officers. On the island at the time the goods were found were two men, Lawson and Hopkins, and a youth. Evidence would show a close association between these men and Pearce in renting a cottage on the island and in the removal of the goods to the island.
Counsel said accused from the outset denied any knowledge of the goods, and that he had been at Waiwera.
John William Shaw, nightwatchman, Huntly, identified accused as the man he saw with a green Chevrolet motor car opposite a garage at Huntly on the night some goods were stolen from the place, including an outboard motor found in the stolen goods. He admitted that at a police identification parade he pointed out another man, but added that as soon as the man spoke he knew he was mistaken.
James Richard Johnston, motor engineer, testified that in February he bought a battery from accused, who said he was selling it for a friend. After the police took the battery the accused refunded the cash paid by witness. (Proceeding) -Auckland Star, 3/7/1944.
Leslie Pearce fades from the record after 1944 and a three year sentence and the only further information comes from his sparse details in the Dunedin City Council's online cemetery records. Leslie died in 1971, at age 66, a patient of Cherry Farm mental hospital.
