BREAKING AND ENTERING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18766, 20 January 1923, Page 3

BREAKING AND ENTERING

ACID JAR AS BATTERING RAM. Andrew Johnson and Michael Size were charged at tho Police Court yesterday, ■ Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., presiding, with entering by day the premises of Messrs A. E. Usherwood and Co. with tho intention of committing a crime. Michael Thomas Kennelly, store manager for Messrs A. E. Usherwood am! Co., said that on Friday, December 22, the premises had been securely looked up for tho Christmas holidays. When witness arrived back at work on December 29 ho found that tho place had been broken into, and that the interior of the office had been badly damaged. A jar of sulphuric acid which had been kept in a small recess adjoining the office, had been broken, and the acid had been spilled over tho floor, and tho building had been damaged to the extent of £4O or £SO. Part of this damage, however, had been caused by tho door being battered in. Deteotive Beer said that about 8 p.m. on December 26 the two accused, who were suffering from severe bums about the face and neck, had come into the Police Station and given themselves up. They said that they had been short of money, and had entered a place in Rattray street to got some cash to last them over tho holidays. When they had entered tho building they had found that there was another door which was locked. One of them had picked ujj a scone jar and thrown it against tho clour to burst it open. Tho jar broke, and tho contents had splashed over them, and burned them severely. Tho two accused had been taken to ine hospital for attention. After making inquiries it had been found that an entrance had been effected through tho back window of Messrs A. E. Usherwood arid Co., and that a largo jar of sulphuric acid had boon broken beside the office, the contents having splashed over the wall of the office, and that tho door had been broken. The two accused had been in hospital, Johnston having been discharged about a week ago, and Size on Wednesday Inst. Both the accused had shown signs of drink on reaching the station. Tho accused, who had nothing to s4y, pleaded “guilty,” and were committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.