ALLEGED HOUSE =BREAKING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17065, 18 August 1917, Page 6

ALLEGED HOUSE-BREAKING.

CHARGES AGAINST FAULKNER

SOME SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

At the Magistrate's Court yesterday, •before Messrs T. D. Cummins and W. Benefielcl, J.s P., a man named Percy Faulkner was charged with the theft of 30-; and an automatic revolver, the pro-1 perty of . a Chinaman,. Ming Lee, and with breaking and entering the residence of Charles'Eales, with intent L-.» commit a crime. He was lurthar charged with breaking and entering,the residence v f David Gellatly. Senior-Se>gt. Bourke prosecuted, and Mr T. B. Shppor appeared for the accused. . . Senior-Stirgt. Bourke said that aft-jr midnight on August 4th accused, 'who was under the influence of liquor, went to the Chinaman's place. He was requested to leave, but refused to do so. The Chinaman went off to sleep, and on awakening found the revolver ani money were missing. It would be alleged that the accused then went to Mr Eales' place and to the residence of Mr Gellatly. ■ A FRIENDLY TRIO. John O'Toole, wharf labourer, a boarder at v hou&e in ' St. Hill Street, said he was with accused on the-night of August 4th. They went to Ming Lees shop, and subsequently to '^witness's room at the boardinghouse, where tIiAV had s--ine drink. They parted at midnight, Faulkner remaining with the, Chinaman. To Mr Slipper • Accused was under the influence £f liquor. ' Ming Lee said lie had four or iiv«e glasses of beer at O'Toole's bedroom, and finally accused accompanied witness back to the 'shop. Accused told witnes he had to go to work on i. Home boat at 4.0 a.m. Witness went off to sleep. When he woke up acciTsedj-tfie revolver, and the money were gone1. A NOCTURNAL INTRUDER, Kathleen Goodwin, a waitress at Mrs Eales' place, said sl.e occupied a bedroom with Lily Eales. At about on the morning of August sth' witness was awakened by a light in tin- bedroom, .and saw a man standing by x-he dressing table looking in some-trinket boxes;. The man then blew the light oiVt. She awakened her companion and sail "There's a man in the room. The man said "it's all right, Lily, I know you." Witness's companion said, "I don't know yon. Strike a match." The'man said, "No." He then added, "If .'you.' make a noise I. will brain you,'" and1 pulled a revolver out. Witness's companion pretended to faint. Witness asked the man if she could get' her >i drink of water.. The man replied^ "alright, as long as you don't..."make'it', noise." Witness ran into one of the other rooms and screamed for . 'help. The man then decamped. Sergt. Bcurke: Could you identify, the man. ' Witness (pointing at the accused)': Yes, he is there. ■'■'-' r'"'! .•Proceeding, witness said she identl : field the .man from six. others' ai the Polico Station. She had neither known the accused before nor had spoken; to him. . ••'. .■ ' ■■■"'' !'; To the Bench: Accused had bis boots off when in the room. Witness tripped over them when going out. He ' rippeared to be sober, but there!' was 'a smell of drink about him., ''" '" AN AMOROUS DISPOSITION. Lily Eales s>aid that on.the morning of August sth she was awakened by the previous witness. The man'said: "If you squeal I'll blow, your brains out. ' He came over and sat on tlieUied ami j asked witness to put her a'rihs'-.'rbiind-' him. Witness asked him his : naif.---md.he said "Frank Hughes;1 you kiu;.> me well." The man took a'revolver "out. of his pocket, and placed one*end of it in her hanJ. Witness sat lip in bed, and exclaimed:. "Oh! Katie, lam fainting." Witness's companion asked tho man if she could go out and get a drink of water. He replied: "Yes, jf you .go out very quietly.' Witness heard Miss Goodwin rush into.;.! her mother's rcom and say,'" There's ."i man in the room." Witness's' mother replied, "Go away, you are dreaming'" Miss Goodwin then went to another room. Witness heard the man rush to put'his boots on. He said: "She's woke the lo>. up; I'm off." !The man •was-swearing all the time. ' Sergt. Bourke: Can you recognise* the man? Witness1: Yes (pointing), there. Sergt. Bourke (indicating Mr Slipper V; The gentleman who is writing. Witness: Oil, no !. (Laughter.) .-Witness added »she could-;':, recognise • accused by "his build and'tallness.' She had not seen accused previously.- , ,To Mr Clipper : She could not identify accused except by his voice. ' ARREST OF ACCUSED. ' Constable P. Farnworth said on the 9th inst. ho arrested accused, who wa* working at a coal yard. At the Police-' Station he was identified by both" the Chinaman and Miss Goodwin. Accused ..said _he did not know what he 'did aftor leaving tho Chinaman's ; place, as tie was "stunned." Witness obtained i

warrant and searched accused's house, ' but found uotlihu; incriiiMiiariiig. Accused told witness he had Uwr, drmkI ing heavily on the night ol; August 4. STARTLING EXPEDIENCE. The charge against Faulkner ci breaking 'ami eni-i-.-in^ Mr Geihitly\i residence was next proceeded with. Ellen Foy said that- in company with an old lady, Mrs Mahoiif.y, she oueupi.il j a room ntviv the back of' iMr Gellatlv's | house. At about b'.O on tli.> r.orui!i»*'.f the sth inst. she awoke to linda man standijia; j-.t -lie foot of the bed. holding a. icvoiver in one hand. Ho said: "''f you yell, Miss, J'll -hoot you." Witnew; screamed. The man then threa--1 stoned 'Mrs Mahoney, who'was trying to get up. Accused, said, "I'll shoot you, too." . Witness did not remember much after that. At this time the blind was up, and ii was breaking day. Sprgt. Bourke: Do you see him now. Witness fpointing) : That's him! Witness added that afterwards stio found a man's boot outside the bathroom window, jvnd subsequently gave iv to Constable Mahoiu\v. She identified tne accused.from' among six others at the Polico Station. . Caherine Gellatly said she heard tho batihdroin window !baiu.g cautiously opened, and then a couple of thuds. On hearing screams wit^ens jumped out of bed and tried to capture the man, who dodged her and run into Mr Gollatly's ■arms. Hfer husband exclaimed, "'What are you doing in my house?" The man replied, "I have come here to do for you." He hold up something close to Mr Gellatly's head. The man then rushed into the bathroom. Witness, on rushing out the back door found a number of of pot plai*; en the ground. She saw the man fumbling about, apparently looking for something. Witness fired a flower-pot at him, but unl'oitnnately missed. The man then jumped over into the next section. She had no doubt about his identity. The cross-examination re-solved itself into a discussion on pot plants. In reply to a string of que lions witness said in the aggregate that hey. were creeping plants in brick-coloured pots, not flowering, but a mass of green, and six in number. She was fond of pot 1 plants, <md supposed they were good ones. . Mr Slipper also pro^eded to question witness about the pattern on he man's clothes, and a footprint in the garden. Mr Cummins: There is a lot of tim.» bsing wasted .without anything of value being led up.to..

Mr. Slipper: It is rot- my intention to disclose whnt I am leading up to. Corroborative evidence was given !iy David Gellatly. He could not^identify the accused, as there was not sufficient; light-when witness struggled with hits. Const-able P. Farnworth said when accused was arrested he was wearing an old pair of boots abo tit two sizes too large. At- ihe house he found a new pair of boots, and Mrs Faulkner said she had just brought them from town.

Accused pleaded not guilty to ail charges. He reserved his defence and was committed for t:\al at the Supreme Court. Bail was allowed in one surety of £100 and two of £150 each.