ENTERED WRONG HOUSE

NZ Truth, Issue 1272, 17 April 1930, Page 10

ENTERED WRONG HOUSE

Drunken Wanderer Gave Widow Unexpected Fright

RUDE AWAKENING FOR SLEEPER

(From "N.Z. TrutliV' Gisborne Representative.) It is not an unheard of thing for a man to be found m the wrong house without reasonable excuse. But behind such incidents there is as a rule a questionable motive and probably an interesting story m the explanation of the error.

'i-jtiujKLAß JttJSiJNWiaDX'S mistake, ande * counsel's explanation of It, probably are not quite unique, but the piquancy of the situation m which he found himself made an interesting epiaode when related to justices at the Gisborne court recently. Kennedy, a man of 27 years, was found occupying the premises of a young widow at about 9.30 o'clock one

levening, but so plausible was his explanation that when he was charged with trespassing he was convicted without penalty. . The widow had returned from shopping m town, and noticing a man's bicycle standing at the gate and a front window open, she quite naturally became suspicious. She decided that precaution was the batter part of valour, especially as she was living alone, so she immediately rang for the ' ' police. Constable Strawbridge arrived on the scene, and having been apprised of the circumstances, set out to investigate. ' . ' ' . As the widow had surmised, the bicycle and open window were not merely a coincidence, for, stretched out on the lady's bed, dead to the world, was Kennedy. To add insult to injury, the intruder had neglected to remove his clothes, even his boo.ts remaining on his feet and leaving tell-tale marks on the bedclothes. Kennedy showed surprise and annoyance at being aroused by the constable, and adopting a bombastic attitude ordered the representative ,of the law to leave the house. "VERY DRUNK" When the constable did leave, however, Kennedy . accompanied him to the police station, and duly made his appearance m the dock. The explanation of the whole affair was, of course, very simple. Mr. S. V. Beaufoy, who appeared for Kennedy, openly . admitted that Kennedy had been drunk— very drunk. That he had found his way into the widow's house was not due to accident, but rather to habit, for the fact was that until four or five weeks previously, Kennedy and his wife had lived m the house for 14 months. On this day he had been to the country, and when he became intoxicated followed his instinct, If not his reason, to his old home. Even his entry through the window was quite m accordance with custom, as it had been his wife's practice to lock the door and leave a window open for Kennedy, to get into the house. Counsel emphasised that there was absolutely no suggestion that Kennedy had been there to commit acrlme, and he was now deeply repentant for his action and the manner m which he had frightened the lady. ' In the circumstances counsel suggested that the court might suppress the man's name, as its publication might lead to his losing his job. The bench thought otherwise. While prepared to merely convict and discharge him for the offence, they considered that the publication of his name would serve as . adequate punishment. -Kennedy did not get his brief accommodation entirely for nothing, as he was fined 10/- for being drunk.