MISTOOK HIS HOUSE

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1938, Page 10

MISTOOK HIS HOUSE

EREAKING-IN CHARGE.

That, in. the darkness of the night, ho entered a house thinking it was his own was the defence- put forward at, Leicester Assizes by Harry RennGcks, aged 33, of Loughborough, who, on the direction of the. judge, was found oni; guilty of breaking into life premises of Mr Ernest Hardy, of Mill lane-, Loughborough, with intent to steal. He was discharged. Mr Hardy stated that ire returned home one night with iiis' wife, and, while he was looking for a match to light -the gas, Rennouks suddenly appeared. When I'asked what, he was doing there, lie replied, “I have as much fight to be hei'c? us you have.” As lie refused to give his name and address, flic police were sent fur. Police Constable J. U. W. Lee-good declared that Reiinocks, who lived three-quarters of a. mile from the Hitody’s house, r.efused to explain why he was in the house, the door of which had been left unlocked. lul the ‘witness box, Reiinocks statedr that ho had a. wife and three children, anti on the night, in ques-tion'he.-had visited several public houses.':; ' _ ■

; “1 remember going into a house in j Mill lane,” he told the judge, “and 1 l thought it was my own. I was lean- ■ ing on the sideboard in the darkness, 11 when the latch lifted and in walked • Mr Hardy and his wife. The next ■ jmoment sumeono gut. hold of me. If. > didn’t, half give me u shock.” ’ ! I'-Cillowing this evidence, Mr Geof-' ircy Smallwood, prosecuting, accepted the judge’s suggestion that there was net sufficient evidence- to support the charge that Itennocks went to the house Witli u- felonious intent.