Attempt to break Into a House.

Manawatu Herald, 25 March 1902, Page 2

Attempt to break Into a House.

We have reported the following case, heard before Messrs Thynoe and Fraser J.’b P. on Saturday morning, fully, women oh their gaard ' and as Being illustrative of the rough characters that, unfortunately, too often make their way to this town. The accused appears to be a most undesirable immigrant and it appeals strange that no care is taken to prevent ,such characters entering the colony whilst the harmless and useful Chinese are barred, by head money,* from entering it. The accused has only been a month in the colony, seven days of which he has'spent in prison. Alexander Potter Hart was charged with that on the 19th day of March hedid threaten to break into the dwelling, house of Herbert Austin, with intentto annoy and intimidate the said: Herbert Austin. As the offence was an indictable one , the accused was not asked to plead.^v Mrs Herbert Austin deposed that bn the 19th inst. she went to bed at 10 o’clock. There was no one else in the house except her son who was five years old. About 11.30 p.m. she heard some one making a noise Outside and looking out of the window saw I man. He went to the back door and started knocking he appeared t» be using ?;bis fists. Asking him whatlje ’Wanted he said he wanted -to see"' th’e boss. Asking him what he wanted to see him for, he said, I want a night’s lodging. He was told be could not get that but if he went to the men’s. . whares he would get a shake dowa. He refused to leave until he had" seen 1 the boss. He kept on hammering at the door, cursing and swearing and' making use of filthy language. He left but came back again and commenced hammering and said if the/ boss would not come out be would come in and make mincemeat of the lot of them. Being frightened she got the child up and got out of the house by the kitchen window and - went to Matbesoh’s whare for assistance. He took her over to Mrs Small’s. On going to the house next morning at 9 o’clock noticed that the back door had marks as if it had been battered with something and that the rope had been cut from the child’s swing. John Matheson deposed to Mrs Austin waking him up and to escorting her to Mrs Small’s. On Mrs Austin going to him he went at once to Mrs Austin’s house and found the accused with the pantry door open and half inside. He was carrying his boots , under his arm. When asked what he was doing there he said ** nothing,don’t lock me up.” The witness further deposed that prior to Mrs Austin calling him up he was in his whare in Stewart street and saw the accused, through bis window, about 11 o’clock that same

night. The accused wanted him to gat up and make him some tea. Asking him who he was the accused stated that he was just out of Wanganui gaol after doing seven days. When he was told to go he used very filthy language and threatened witness. He went away and shortly after Mrs Austin arrived. Constable Kidd deposed to arresting the accused at Levin who in answer to the charge said “ I was very drunk last night and I don’t remember anything about it.” . The accused after being cautioned said he had nothing to say, was committed for trial at the next sitting of the District Court to be holden at Wanganui.