POLICE COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1762, 31 May 1906, Page 2

POLICE COURT.

ALLEGED HOUSE-BREAKING AT

ORMOND.

At the Police Court yesterday Alexander J.mes O'Rourke, of Ormond, was charged on remand with breaking and entering >be dwelling of F J. Parsons, Ormond, with intent tu commit a crime. Sergeant Haokenzto conducted the pro* secution and Mr Smok appeared for the defence. Matha M. Parsons stated that she was the wife of F. J. Parsons, laborer, Ormond, Her husband had been working on the railway wo'ki at Te Karaka, and came home on Saturdays. On the night of the 14th witness was alone. She was owakoned by someone tapping at the window. The person attempted to pass himself off as her brother-in-law, but witness recognised tbe voioe as accused’s. She refused the man-, admission, He then tried the front-room windows and the front and back doors, Ho cflared her money to get admission, and upon refusal tried tbe k'.tohen window aud got through. Witness went to the kit'ohen and ordered the man out, but he refused to go, stating that he knew she was without protection, and attempting tc oatch hold of her. Witness kept him off with a bigoarviDg kaife. He had no hat, ooat, or waistcoat, and smelt of drink. Witness succeeded in closing the door on aecused, fastening it with a chair. She returned to her room, leaving aoonsed in tho old kitohen. Aooused returned to her window, and again sought admission. Witness threatened to call for help if he did not leave, and staled that she would ring up her husband in the morning, and have the matter put in the bands of the police. Aooused said it would be no good to summpos him, as he was off to tbe bush next morning. He then said he would go, and left at a quarter past 12, Witnoss first met the aooased about two months ago. She told her mother-in-law of the affair next morning, and her husband when be oame home.

By Mr Stock : It would be about halfpast eleven when acoueed first camp tq the house. Aooused had never been inside her house before. Bhe had never told anyone that this took place on Saturday and not Monday. She told the deteotive that it took place on Monday night, and that it was 11.30 when aooused first oame. Mr Stock said he would prove that accused was not there.

Re-examined, witness said Bhe had seeq accused the preyious Friday, and they had conversed for Bevoral mioutes.

In reply to his Woiship, witness stated that she had no dpubt as to the accused being the person who visited the house. Evidence for the prosecution was also given by F. J. Parsqus, Julia Pound, and Detective Maddern, Mrs Pound stating she had heard voices about midnight. Mr Stock said he would call witnesses to prove that Mr Parsons had made

different statements to that given in the box, and that three witnesses would swear

that accused was asleep in hod in the hotel at 11.30 on the night in question, Two had left the room about that hour

and tho third slept in the same room as accused. It was, he said, evidently a case of mistaken identity. As his witnesses

were not available a remand was granted until Wednesday next.