STOLEN SAFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 16

STOLEN SAFE

FINGEK-PRINT CLUES

ALLEGATIONS OF " FRAMING "

ACCUSED TO STAND TRIAL [by tklkg ha p n—own correspondent] TALMEKSTON NORTH, Tuesday Finger-prints found on a broken window glass played an important part in the safe-stealing charge against a labourer, Leonard Norman Crawford, aged 32 years, in the Magistrate's Court. Crawford was accused of breaking and entering by night the premises of Buglass and Brewer, motor mechanics, and stealing a safe containing books and £3 5s in cash and a cheque, the total value being £2l ss. The safe, with the books untouched, was subsequently discovered in a paddock near Himatangi, about 18 miles from Palmerston North, but the money was gone, except for a few pennies. The door had been forced open. Conversation Recalled Evidence was given by Mrs. A. B. Pritchard, with whom accused boarded, that on the day following the theft Crawford had said to her that if anyone should ask what he had done tho night before she could tell them that lie had been playing cards. Crawford had done so, and had retired to his room about 9 p.m. She recalled his meutioning something about a S'y/ 3 ; but could not remember details of the conversation. She had told him, however, that she was disgusted with him. James Check told the Court that he had discovered the handle of a safe under somo wood in the wood yard where lie was employed. This wood yard was next door to tho house where Crawford lived. Detective Power stated that when spoken to about the thelt Crawford had denied being at Buglass and Brewer's that night. He had gone to bed about 9 p.m. and had not been out again. When told that his finger-prints had been found on a broken window glass lie had said ho could not account for them. Later Crawford suggested that witness would like to know how tho finger-prints came to be there. Detective's Interview "1 told him I could understand it, but naturally I didn't know the whqle story," said the detective. "Accused then replied, 'You don't, but 1 do. It has been done very cleverly, but 1 have been "framed." ' 1 then told him that }iis story of being 'framed' didn't fit in with his attempt to establish an alibi through Mrs. Pritchard, and his reply was that sooner than drag her in lie would take the whole blame himself/' Witness added that the accused had a car, with which he could easily have removed the safe.

Senior-Sergeant E. W. Dinnie, fingerprint export, said the prints on the glass were made by three fingers of the right hand, and on four pieces submitted to him there were over 80 points of similarity with recorded finger-prints belonging to Crawford. ' Accused was committed for trial.