UNINVITED GUESTS

Evening Star, Issue 18392, 28 September 1923, Page 6

UNINVITED GUESTS

TWO MEN POUND IN HOUSE

CHARGED AT POLICE COURT.

Henry Urquhart and James Burman wore charged with having entered by night the premises of J. J. Clark, with intent to commit a crime therein.' 1 They were further charged with wilful mischief in that they damaged a white metal casket valued at £3 and a white Derby plate valued at £8 Rs.

The accused were not represented by counsel, and Senior-sergeant Mathieson prosecuted. Joseph Alexander, storeman at Neill and Co.’s, Bond street, said that on September 6, between 9 p.m. and 9.15 p.m., he left his home at 54 Queen street to go to town. He heard a very heavy crash of glass in Mr Clark’s dwelling. Ho know that the Clarks were away from homo. Ho went into the slot telephone at tho foot of Pitt street and rang up the North Dunedin police. Tho sound from Mr Clark’s seemed to suggest that a window was being broken. He did not see anyone about at tho time.

Sergeant Shanahan, stationed at North Dunedin, said that at about 9.25 p.m. on September 6, in response to a telephone message, he went to Mr J. J. Clark’s house, No. 1 Union street. lie knew that tho occupants of tho house were, away on holiday. On arrival ho found that the 6ft gate was locked, and witness had to climb over it. Ho found Constable Harris and a civilian in the grounds in front of the house, and another constable and a civilian were at the. rear. The doors and windows were securely locked, with the exception of tho hack kitchen window, the lower pane of glass of which was broken, and tho lower sash up about six inches. The broken glass was lying on the kitchen table and floor. Constable Harris and himself entered the building by the broken window, followed by Constable Lina.no. They switched on the light and wont into the d ining room, where they found tho two accused sitting on tho couch in tho dining room. He asked what they were doing there, and Urquhart replied: "If you tell mo I will tell you,” and the other accused put out his hand and said : “Shake: How are you?” A few moments later Urquhart stated that they had been brought to the house by a man who said ho lived there. On the floor of the dining room they found the jewel casket, which was locked. It contained a gold ring, a gold muff chain, a gold curb bangle, and a neck chain and pendant. Tho dressing jacket, singlet, pair of socks, pair of trousers, morocco jewel case, and a leather purse were also on the floor in the dining room. Tho two accused were left in the dining room in charge of Constable Linauo. Constable Harris and witness made a thorough search of the building, and could find no trace of any other person in the building, and no sign of any person having gained access to the build ing or exit from it, apart from tho accused. On examining the breakfast room downstairs they found a broken plate, and on examining the rooms upstairs they found a chest of drawers pulled out and ransacked, whilst the drawers in the wardrobe were pulled out and ransacked. In another bedroom tho drawers of a duchesso were ransacked. In bedroom No. 3 the drawers of tho duchesse were ransacked. In the fourth bedroom they found the jewel case on the floor. Small boxes, likely to contain valuables, were strewn about tho floors. On searching the accused at tho police, station the wrist watch was found in Urquharl’s possession, and also a pendant, a shoo buckle, and a scent bottle. The accused said that they were his property, but later said he didn’t know how they came into his possession, and also that they wore not in his ’possession when he entered tho house. On September 8 both the accused made voluntary statements in explanation of their presence in tho house. The accused stated that they had met a man and went down a side street from George street. The stranger had a drink with them, and then suggested that they should go with him. They followed him and climbed a wall to get into tho grounds of a house. The dwelling-house of (Mr Clark was surrounded by a wall and fence varying from 6ft in places to 20ft, and access could only be gained by climbing the 6ft a portion of the wall near the gate. Witness considered that it was impossible for anyone to leave tho premises while the police party was there. Both men had had drink, but they were not drunk, and appeared to have their wits about them. A drunken man could not have got over the gate. Urquhart stated that when he said that everything in his possession was his own he did not know that he had the other things on him. Tho case was adjourned until the afternoon.