BETRAYED BY FOOTPRINTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18273, 14 December 1922, Page 8

BETRAYED BY FOOTPRINTS.

AN AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL

BURGLARY AT KAKAHI. [BX TEUEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HAMILTON, Wednwdsy. Charges of breaking and entering the premises of Harry A. Mercer, at Kakahi, and stealing £67, were preferred against James Henry Williams (Mr. Strang) in the Supreme Court before Mr. Justice Herdman to-day. The accused pleaded not guilty. Harry Arthur Mercer, storekeeper, of Kakahi, said that on August 30 he placed his takings for the day in paper bags in a brief bag in the hall. He went out and left the place locked up with a light burning.. There was £67 in the bag. On his return he caw footmarks on the couch under the kitchen window. The window catch was broken and the money in the bag gone. The light -was out. The accused lived near witness, and was in the shop half an hour before the witness closed it. Several witnesses gave evidence as to accused leaving the theatre at the interval on the night in question and reluming for the second part. Mrs., Harriet Brough said she saw a light in Mercer's house at 8.40 p.m., and Airs. Lilian Forbes said she saw the light was oxit at- 9.10 p.m. Constable McNamara said he measured the footprints on the sofa. The window had been forced with some flat instrument. After the accused was arrested his shoes were compared with the marks on the sofa and they corresponded exactly. Sergeant J. O'Brien said ho arrested the accused in Taumarunui for drunkennessHe had over £18 in his possession, toms of which was in a paper bag. A number of new articles were in his pjssession, and ho said he had cc/rue to town with over £60. He had given his. wife some of the money, and the witness ascertained that she had purchased wearing apparel. No evidence was called tor the defence, counsel submitting that the evidence for the Crown was purely circumstantial and not conclusive. After a short retirement the accused was found guilty, and, at counsel's request, sentence was deferred until tomorrow. Hia Honor remarked that the accused was an Australian criminal with a long list, and he did not see what good an adjournment could do.