A FLASH IN THE DARK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 141, 16 June 1928, Page 12

A FLASH IN THE DARK.

STRUGGLE WITH INTRUDER. NOCTURNAL VISITOR IN STOCKING FEET. AX INCIDENT AT TE AROHA. (Br Telegraph.—Own CorrpSDondenf.) HAMILTON, this day. Hearing the door of the office of the Grand Hotel. Te Aroha. where he was sleeping, being stealthily opened about 4.30 on the morning of February 25. the proprietor, George Page, laid low for the intruder, who. a few seconds later, flashed a torch into the office. Page sprang at the intruder, a short, sroodlooking, well-groomed man. and. after a severe struggle, managed to hang on to him until the porter arrived and called the police. The nocturnal visitor, who was without his shoes, was George Albert Hedley Nixon, a soft goods dealer, of Auckland, who for some time has been selling his wares in the South Island. At the Hamilton Supreme Court yesterday Nixon pleaded not guilty to breaking and entering the premises of the Grand Hotel with intent to commit a crime. Mr. H. T. Gillies prosecuted. and prisoner was represented by Mr. J. •J. Sullivan (Auckland).

Mr. Gillies opened by stating that the night was that before the Te Aroha races and the thermal town was full of visitors. Mr. Page, proprietor of the Grand Hotel, gave up his own bed to assist in accommodating the overflow, and slept in the office. A boarder would state that some time in the early morning he heard somebody on the fire escape endeavouring to open his window. He called out. and the person outside disappeared. Some time later Mr. Page heard the office door being stealthily opened. He lay quiet and suddenly a torch flashed round and Mr. Page grappled with the intruder, who said he was looking for a Mr. Jackson. A terrific struggle took place, the police were called by the porter, who arrived quickly on the scene, and the intruder was arrested. The arrested man was the person, who was found to be in his stocking feet.

The licensee, who gave evidence, was closely cross-examined by Mr. Sullivan. who elicited the fact that the night was a very wet one. which might have been a reason for prisoner removing his wet shoes. The man said he was looking for Mr. Jackson, whom he thought was boarding there, and that he was also looking for a bed. Mr. Jackson, who was in Te Aroha at the time, had since told witness that he had stayed at the Grand off and on for twenty years. Frederick William Cards, proprietor of the Criterion Hotel. Auckland, who was sleeping in one of the upper corridors, said that about 4.30 a.m. he heard a noise on the verandah outside his room, and the window being opened. He asked who was there, and the intruder beat a hasty retreat. A short time later he heard a noise below, but thinking it was merely some kind of brawl he did not trouble to go down. Constable Morison said that when called to the hotel he found Xixon in the office, where he was held by Page. Asked how he gained entry, Xixon replied. "By the fire escape." Asked what he was doing there he said he was looking for a bed and that he thought Mr. Jackson was there. On being searched an electric torch and a locksmith's file were found on him, together with a sum of over £4.

The hearing at this stage was adjourned. Prisoner's Explanation. Prisoner said he stayed out late at night and could not get a lodging. He slept in a railway carriage till nearly 5 a.m.. and then went to the hotel. Knowing that the porter started work at 5 o'clock, he entered the back door, hoping to get a clean up and a cup of tea from the porter. The latter not being about, he then opened the doo~ of the sitting room for the purpose of lying down. As soon as he opened the door he was seized by Page. He had previously taken his shoes off and left them at the foot of the stairs. Mr. Justice Blair: Not for the porter to clean them. I suppose. (Laughter.) Mr. Gillies: "iou say you went to Te Aroha to attend the races?— Yes. Could you have attended the races had you not been arrested ?—Yes. Are you permitted to enter a racecourse? —No, but I attend races, nevertheless. Denies Being Married. Mr. Gillies: Are you married?— No. You swear that?— Yes. Have you not a wife living in Auckland ?—No. You know, of course, that this fact can be proved or disproved quite easily? —Yes. ~ ' And you still swear you have not a wife in Auckland?—l may have lived with a woman, but have never been married. \ou know the possible consequences of such an answer ?—Yes. Prisoner admitted that when brought to Hamilton after his arrest he remarked to Sergeant Sweeney that he did not want to appear before Mr. Wvvern Wilson, S.M., who might recognise him. (Proceeding.)