COTTAGES STOLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

COTTAGES STOLEN.

AMAZED LANDLORD SURVEYS HIS "REAL" ESTATE. After an attack of influenza, which had kept him indoors for about a month, Mr. John Morris Goodwin recently took a walk to Willesden Green to see some of his cottages and wooden buildings, at 296, 298, and 300,' High Road. To his astonishment he found the property gone—" completely wiped off the earth" was the expression Mr. Goodwin used at Willesden Police Court. Joseph Griffiths, aged 35, Elizabeth Griffiths, aged 31, his wife, and George Morgan, aged 27, all living at 8, Dudding Hill Lane, Willesden, were accused of stealing a quantity of timber and building materials. According ■to the prosecutor the buildings • were permanent and heavily tiled, and quite £200 worth of damage had been done. Over 20 tons of timber had been removed. PoliceConstable Bryant said that on February 10 he saw Morgan at work pulling down these premises. The officer had some conversation wuu accused, and said," you clearing them all away, old chap?" to which Morgan replied, " Yes, I have orders to shift 'em." The officer saw. Morgan working on the buildings several days, and one day he saw a building, which he was knocking down, fall on him and bury him. Witness extricated Morgan, and found -that he was not much hurt. He went on with his work and pulled, down all the buildings. Mrs. Griffiths told the magistrate that 15 people were engaged in removing the property. All the accused were remAnisd for further, in,.