TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 10

TRIFLES LIGHT AS AIR

SPIDER’S WEB AND FEATHERS THAT LED TO AN ARREST.

A spider’s web and two feathers played an important part in a police prosecution at Whitohill (Alton) one day lately (says the, London “Daily News”), when Albert Howard, a private in the Queen’s Regiment, was charged with the theft-of a watch and chain and other articles from Lieutenant Robert Scott, Pringle’s residence at Standford. ■ Howard -was' the officer’s servant, and -was left in charge of the house while his master and the domestic servants were away. Being afraid to sleep in the house by himself, he lodged with a married private, . When the two men arrived at the house one morning Howard discovered a “burglary,” and seizing his master’s sword, bravely marched upstairs to search the rooms.' No trace of the thieves was found. The’police wore called in, and their expert effort -revealed no clue. To the detectives Howard suggested that an entrance had been effected by a kitchen • wiftdow; • But the trained eye of a policeman observed a spider’s web, not-of recent date, stretched tightly across the win.dow, and the soldier’s theory was put aside in favour of personal inquiries. When those inquiries revealed the fact that Howard- had sent to hia sweetheart at Dover two feathers which formed part ,of the stolen property the kitchen window theorist wag promptly arrested. Later he was committed for trial.