A BURGLARIOUS DUO.

NZ Truth, Issue 860, 13 May 1922, Page 6

A BURGLARIOUS DUO.

Lawrence Egmont Windsor and Joseph Frederick Windsor "were charged with burglary and theft at Paekakariki. Lawrence pleaded not guilty to the charge of breaking and entering, but guilty to the charge of theft. Joseph pleaded not guilty on all counts. The alleged offence consisted of the theft of a watch and hat from the farmhouse of John Sidney Smith, near Paekakariki, on February 14 last. The property was found on the accused toy Constable O'Donnell, who overtook them on the road to Wellington. Brother Lawrence, giving his testimony, contended (his brother had nothing to do with! the .crime. He had left Joseph on the roadside while he visited the farmhouse ostensibly to get a drink. He found the door open and the house empty, and so went m and helped himself to- the articles mentioned m the charge. The accused were pushing bikes at the time, and Lawrence admitted that he had also stolen these from Palmerston North. His Honor, m summing up, pointed out to the jury that if there was a common understanding between the two accused to commit the crime, then they were both actually guilty; anyway, they were both m the possession of bicycles which they well knew had been stolen. The jury found both guilty of the offence of "entering." Sentence was deferred.