Percy William MARMO [2216]

  General Notes:

Toora and Welshpool Ensign and South Gippsland Observer (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Fri 1 Oct 1915 Page 2
ROBBERY.
ROBBERY.
A smart arrest was effected by Constable W. M. Thomas, of Toora, during the week in connection with a daring robbery which was committed at Port Welshpool on Friday night last at Mr C. Anderson's business premises, whilst the occupiers were attending the Fisk Jubilee Singers concert at Welshpool. On their return Mrs Anderson found that an entrance had been forced into the shop, and on examination found that the till had been opened and a sum of £10 11s extracted. On Saturday morning Constable Thomas was in- formed of the burglary and visited the Port to investigate. Suspicion fell on an individual named Percy
Marmo, who had been working at the Port for some time, and he was interrogated by the police official, but he denied any guilt. It was, how- ever, ascertained by Const. Thomas the footprints of the accused exactly fitted an impression left outside the shop. Marmo, however, had no money in his possession, and was not detained by the constable. On Sunday Const. Thomas visited Welshpool and when seen by Marmo, the latter ran away from him. That day the suspect stopped at Welshpool and Const.
Thomas found in his room the paper bag which had contained the money. On Monday Marmo bought a ticket at Welshpool for Melbourne, but did not travel by the train. Constable Thomas watched his movements that, he was walking towards Melbourne. Next day Marmo stepped into the train at Fish Creek and was immediately arrested and charged with the theft by Const. Thomas, who then found over £5 in his possession. He was brought back to Foster and remanded to Melbourne, and will be tried at Foster on the 8th inst. It is expected that Marmo's arrest will clear up several mysterious robberies which occurred at Footscray some time ago, as he answers the description of the person wanted in connection with the crimes.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13015787

Gippsland Standard and Alberton Shire Representative (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Wed 13 Oct 1915 Page 2
FOSTER POLICE COURT.
FOSTER POLICE COURT.
FRIDAY, OCT. 8th, 1915.
(Before Messrs. W. W. Harris. P.M., M. Lehen and M. Synan. J.P's).
Constable Thomas proceeded against Charles Green for hawking and selling goods (books) of an immoral character without a licence. In consequence of information received he interviewed Green at the Raillway Hotel, Toora, and found he was in possession of such books. Reginald E. Page gave evidence as to the purchasing of books (one of which was produced). Fined 5s, with 30s costs, in de fault 24 hours.
Theft.
Percy William Marmo was brought before the court by Cons. Thomas with having, on the 24th September last, broken into and abstracted from the till of Mrs. Chas. Anderson's store, at Port Welshpool, the sum of £10 while the occupants were attending an entertainment at Welshpool.
Inspector Fowler conducted the case for the Crown, while accused, who pleaded not guilty, was undefended.
After explaining the facts of the case for the prosecution Inspector Fowler called Louisa Anderson, owner and occupier of the business at Port Welsh pool, stated that she knew accused for the past eleven months, he having lived in a hut belonging to her within 200 yards of the store. Remmember edthe 24th September last, when accused came into the store at about 7 p.m., and purchased some butter and a loaf of bread, for which he said he would pay on the following Saturday. Always kept the money in the till, which she had opened in his (accused's) presence to get money for the concert. Had also handled the bag containing the £10, which was afterwards missing. Accused could see what was in the till from where he stood. The £10 comprised 6 £1 notes, 10s note, ½ sovereign, and £3 in silver. There was also other money in the till, including £10 in a canvas bag at the rear of the till, which could not have been noticed unless the till was pulled right out. After closing the store she left for Welshpool on the tram, there being nobody in charge during her absence. On their return at about 11.30 p.m. they enter ed the house from the back door, and having supper were surprised to see two girlfriends open and walk in through the front door, which aroused their suspicion, the door having been locked prior to their departure for Welshpool. She (witness) immediately inspected the till, and found the paper bag containing the £10 missing. The bag produced was similar to the one referred to. Did not authorise anyone to remove money from the till.
On being asked by the P.M. if he (accused) had any questions to ask the witness, he stated that he had walked out of the shop immediately after receiving the goods. This was all he had to state. George Anderson (sworn) said he resided at Port Welshpool. Had known accused for several months. Remembered the 24th Sept., when he came into the shop and purchased some cigarettes from him (witness). Had securely locked up the premises before leaving for Port Welshpool. Just prior to leaving had noticed accused in front of the shop. The windows were all fastened. FollowinLinghe appearance of visitors through the front door an inspection of the windows was made by him, when it was found that one had been forced open, and another one tampered with. In the morning he examined the yard, and found the articles by which he surmised the window had been opened, the baton and axe produced he identified as the same. Also found foot prints. On the 25th he summoned Cons. Thomas, who, on arrival, had brought accused round and compared his left, boot with the mark in the clay. Cons. Thomas re marked to accused, "That fits your boot," to which he replied "Yes, it fits it." The boot produced was the one tried.
Accused (to witness) denied using the words "Yes, it fits." Geo. Carter, fisherman, Port Welshpool, knew accused. On the 24th Sept. was at the Association reading room, when be noticed Marmo walk in at about 9 p.m., and again about 10 o'clock. Herbert Read, groom at Welsh pool Hotel, said on the 27th Sept. saw Marmo in bed at the hotel. Cons. Thomas called the day he (accused) left the hotel. Had shown the constable the room he (accused) had occupied, and had noticed the constable pick up a paper bag from the floor, which was not in the room the night previous.
George Holyoak, station master at Fish Creek, remembered the 28th Sept., when he had seen accused on the platform. Had served him with a second-class ticket to Melbourne, and received in payment a £10 note.
Constable Thomas brought accused into his office and searched him, when he found concealed in his shirt pocket six £1 notes, and in another pocket some loose silver. Had re turned the note to the constable in return for the ticket. The note produced appeared to be the same. Constable Thomas, on being examined, said from information received he journeyed to Port Welsh pool. On arriving at Anderson's he found the store had been broken into. Suspicions led to accused, whose boots compared with the marks outside the window, which were very plain and distinct. After a conversation he visited the hut occupied by Marmo, and made a thorough search of both him and the hut. Found about 6s in silver and a few coppers on him, which he said was all the money he had. Had received a written statement from him as to his movements the night previous. On the 27th Sept. saw accused at Welshpool, when he ran away. In the evening he obtained information that caused the issue of a warrant for his arrest. On the 28th he (witness) journeyed to Fish Creek, where he met accused in the act of proceeding to Melbourne. On being searched, the money as stated by witness Holyoak, was found on him, which, in answer to questions, accused said that he had received from Syd. Knight, and that when searched at Port Welshpool the money was deposited under a pillow of a bed he had occupied at his uncle's place at that place. He subsequently arrested him and locked him up.
This closed the evidence for the prosecution.
In reply to the P.M., accused pleaded not guilty, and gave evidence of his action from the time of the robbery to that of his arrest, but nothing relative to how he became of the money in his possession. On the night of the robbery, according to his evidence, he was mostly at the Association reading room, and in company with other folk. The day after he was at Welshpool, from which place he, although having purchased a railway ticket to Melbourne, walked to Fish Creek, remaining over night at Hoddle Range, thence to Fish Creek, where his arrest terminated his journey. In a brief summing up, the P.M. ordered accused to take his trial at the Court of General Sessions at Yarram on the 10th Nov. next. As the accused was on remand Continued on Page 3Scroll to previous page from a recent trial at the Footscray court for other charges bail could not be allowed, and he was removed to the cell.
A further charge with having in his possession a gold ring, the property of Miss Rose Peterson, taken from a vest pocket hanging in a house belonging to Oscar Olson at Port Welshpool, was also brought against accused, but the case was adjourned until the 12th Nov. at Foster, 19s being allowed for costs.
<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/121033400>

Toora and Welshpool Ensign and South Gippsland Observer (Vic. : 1914 - 1918) Fri 22 Oct 1915 Page 3
Housebreaking.
Housebreaking. Last Friday's "Age" says:-
A youth 11 tuned Percy Marmo was charged at the Footscray court on Thursday with breaking into the residence of-James. F. Birch, of Bunbury-street, Footscray, and stealing a gold watch and chain and other jewellery, valued at £30. The offence is alleged to have been committed as far back as 5th Oct., 1914, mid evidence submitted by Sub-Inspector Westcott was to the effect that on that date informant's wife was out of the house for an hour, and that during that period the jewellery disappeared.. Malvina. Frieman, wife of Adolf Frieman, pawnbroker, of Footscray, identified accused as a youth who at tempted to pawn the watch produced with her for 20s. She became suspicious of him, and told him to bring. his mother to authenticate the transaction. When he went she communicated with the police. Accused left the watch and did not return. Accused, who reserved his de fence, war. committed .for trial at General' Sessions on 1st November, bail being fixed at one. surety of £10Q and himself in like amount. Mr. H. E. Caldecott, J.P., expressed gratification at the action taken by Mrs. Frieman to assist the course of justice. Marmo is the youth who was recently arrested and committed "for trial at Yarram on 10th November for house-breaking, at Port Welshpool.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130157959

Advertiser (Footscray, Vic. : 1914 - 1918) View title info Sat 16 Oct 1915 Page 2
HOUSEBREAKING CHARGE.
HOUSEBREAKINGCHARGE.
At the Footscray court on Thursday, Percy Marmo was charged by Plain Clothes Constable Davis with feloniously breaking into the property of James Frederick Birch, of Bunbury street, Footscray, on 5th October, 1914. and stealing one gold watch and chain, one pendant and gold chain, one Gillette safety razor. one diamond ring, one cameo bracelet, valued at £30. Sub-Inspector Westcott prosecuted.
James Frederick Birch swore the gold watch, chain,, and safety razor produced by Constable Davis belonged to his wife and himself. On the evening of 5th October, 1914, at 9 p.m,, he discovered that the jewellery was missing. He communicated his loss to the police. Three days after Constable Davis produced a watch which witness identified as his wife's property. Olive Alma Birch, wife of complain ant, said that on the date mentioned she left home between the hours of 4 and 5 p.m. The windows were fastened and doors locked. She did not become aware of her loss until later in the even Mrs alvina Frieman, assistant at a pawnbroker's establishment n Hopkins street, Footscray, stated that on the 6th. of October 1914, defendant Marmo came into the shop, produced a gold watch and chain said "My mother Mrs Brown of Droop street sent me to get a loan of 30/- on this watch and chain.." Witness saw the inscription "Olive" inside, and said to Marmo, "Why did your mother not come with it herself." He said "She is busy getting the tea." Witness asked "What is your mother's name ? He replied, Mary or Elizabeth, witness could not say exactly, but the name did not coincide with the inscription, consequently her suspicions were aroused and she told Marmo to bring his mother. He departed leaving the watch. Witness communicated with the police. Marmo did not return.and Constable Davis took charge of the property Mr Caldecott-Before we go any further Mrs Frieman the bench desires to compliment you on the action you have taken in this matter. Plain Clothes Constable Davis stated that he visited Melbourne gaol on the 3rd inst., and asked accused "What did you do with the jewellry which you stole from Birch's?" Accused replied, "I stole no jewellry at all." Witness asked him where he got the watch he tried to pawn at Frieman's Accused, after some hesitation said "I got it from - . He asked me to pawn it for him.'' Subsequently Mrs Frieman accompanied witness to the Melbourne goal where she identified accused as the man who tried to pawn the watch.
Witness added that accused was under arrest for a burglary at Toora, Gippsland, also that he is to be charged at next Thursday's court with thefts of jewellry valued at £.12 property of Mrs W. Forge (on Sept. 15th and 29th 1914.) and jewellery valued at £22 property of Mrs Teagus, (on Oct. 15th, 1914.) Accused was committed for trial at General sessions commencing on the 1st of November. Bail was allowed on two sureties of £100 each.
<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/89114225>

JEWEL BOXES RIFLED
YOUNG MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.
At the Footscray Court on Thursday a young man named Percy Marmo was presented on a charge of having feloniously entered the house of James F. Birch, 6 Bunbury street. Footscray. and stolen from there a lady's gold watch and chain, pendant and chain, diamond ring, a Gilette safety razor, and a cameo bracelet, valued in all 30 pound Marmo was undefended. He pleaded not guilty.
Evidence for the prosecution was given by James F. Birch and Olive Birch, that the jewellery was taken during a short absence from the house on October 15, 1914, by Melvina Frei- man, assistant in a Hopkins street pawnbroking business, that accused tried to pledge the missing gold watch and chain for 30s for his mother, but that when she found the name engraved inside was Olive. whereas the man said his mother's name was Mary or Elizabeth, her suspicions were aroused. She detained the watch, and rang up the police. Plain-clothes Constable Davis said he interviewed accused in the Melbourne gaol on October 1st of this year. When asked where he got the watch he tried to pawn at Freiman's he said it had been given him by a young fellow who had gone to the front that morning: that the razor had been given to him by the same person at the same time to pawn. Accused had been arrested at Toora on another charge.
There were two futhfurtherrges against accused of having, between August 25th and 29th, entered the dwelling of Winifred Forge and stolen jewellery valued at £12: of having en- tered the residence of Charlotte Treagus on October 15 and stolen jewel- lery valued at £22. Plain-clothes Constable Davis said he was not pre- pared to go on. A remand was granted to Thursday, 21st inst., bail being allowed on accused's own and another surety of £100.
The chairman (Mr. Caldecott) said the bench desired to congratulate Mrs. Freeman on the action she had taken. It was highly commendable indeed. Sometimes they had reason to cavil at pawnbrokers for their laxity, but they had reason to be pleased in this case.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/73485659

The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) View title info Mon 15 Nov 1915 Page 10
TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT
Judge Moule, in the Court of General Sessions today, passed sentence on Percy Marmo, for housebreaking and receiving. On each of four charges Marmo was sentenced to two years' Imprisonment, the sentences to be concurrent
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242409311

Percy married Elsie Tainton CRUICKSHANK [342] [MRIN: 116], daughter of James CRUICKSHANK Jnr [66] and Emily Ann LUCAS [328], in 1919 in , Victoria, Australia.⁷⁹⁸ (Elsie Tainton CRUICKSHANK [342] was born in 1900 in Maryborough, Vic, Australia,⁷⁹⁹ died on 10 Apr 1979 in Footscray, Vic, Australia ⁸⁰⁰ and was buried in Apr 1979 in Altona, Vic, Australia ⁸⁰¹.)