CHARGES OF BURGLARY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3601, 19 February 1927, Page 2

CHARGES OF BURGLARY

AGAINST THREE BROTHERS

REMARKABLE EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION.

Palmerston North, February 18. A determined attempt to escape from custody was made by three occupants of the Palmerston North lockup this morning while awaiting their appearance in Court on a number of serious charges. Later in the morning the three appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to answer charges of breaking and entering the Otaki Dairy Factory. For the prosecution there was tendered as evidence a statement said to be made to the police by one of the accused, in which he detailed his part in several of the alleged exploits. When Constable Matthew opened the door of the lockup at about 8.30 a.m. with the prisoners’ breakfast, he was suddenly set upon by the two, who caught him by the throat and proceeded to assault him, while the third made good his escape. The other two quickly followed and made off across the paddock adjoining the police station. One rushed into a dwellinghouse, and'a second hid under a bed, hut all three were caught.

A black cloth mask, a toy revolver, and a jemmy improvised from a tire lever figured among the exhibits in the Magistrate’s Court later in the morning, when Albert George Windsor, Lawrence Windsor, and Frederick Joseph Windsor, the three men mentioned, were charged conjointly l as follows (.1) On January 31, at Otaki, breaking and entering the office of the Otaki Dairy Company, Ltd., and stealing postage stamps to the value of £1; (2) on January 31, at Pahiatua, breaking and entering the Pahiatua railway station and stealing £2O 13s 4d, the property of the New Zealand Government; (3) on January 31, at Levin, breaking and entering the railway station and stealing £122 17s Bd. Messrs W. Ashworth and G. H. Espiner, J. P.’s, presided. Messrs J. F. Ross and C. E. Brooker, of Wellington, appeared on behalf of the accused.

Charges of assaulting Constable Matthew and of being incorrigible rogues through escaping from the lock-up were first preferred. Lawrence and Frederick Windsor were each sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for assault, while a term of twelve months was imposed on each of the three, for escaping from custody. THE OTAKI CHARGE.

In regard to the first major charge relating to Otaki, SeniorDetective Quirke stated that for some days prior to the date of the alleged offence the three accused were living a few miles distant. Some time in the night of January 30 or the morning of January 31, the dairy factory was entered, the office door being forced by means of a jemmy. Also, a quantity of gelignite was inserted in the keyhole of the strongroom, while a number of postage stamps were stolen. At 3.30 that morning a passerby saw three men in the vicinity of the Otaki railway station, while a five-seater car was drawn up nearby. On February 3 the three accused were interviewed by the police at Wellington, and later by the police of Otaki, Levin and Palmerston North. Since the accused had been charged one had made a statement in which lie said that he was present when his brothers broke and entered the Otaki dairy factory. A steel instrument had been found .which had been sworn lo as being the instrument responsible for the marks on the safe door, and this had. been traced to the possession of the accused. Witnesses were called to give evidence in support. A PURCHASE OF GELIGNITE. Lancelot Herbert, storekeeper, of Pahiatua, Idleposed lha:t,ijjistl at: closing time ou January;2'7, the accused (Frederick {(Windfsor came to the store and asked for a case of gelignite. Witness had replied that he had no ease, and had given accused a 51h box of gelignite, containing 50 plugs, and a box of 100 detonator caps. Accused had given the name of “L. Jones.”

Constable C'osgrave, of Levin, staled in evidence that he set a watch at Manakau on February 4, when the three accused were seen to. hide a benzine tin and other articles in the scrub by the railway. Investigation showed that the tin contained a hag which held a black mask, two electric torches, a toy pistol and a quantity of gelignite (produced). The accused were followed up and charged with the offence at Otaki. The tin also contained a number of postage'stamps. Detective McLennan then read the statement made by accused, Albert Windsor, at the Wellington Gaol on February 5. In this statement Albert Windsor said he wished to tell tho truth about the safe at Levin Railway Station being blown open at or about 10 p.m. on January 30. Ilis two brothers, his wife, mother, sister and himself were on a run to Levin in a motor car to look for a house at Levin. Lawrence and Joseph said they were going to blow a safe at the railway station and asked Albert to stay in the car with the women and keep the engine in readiness to get away when the job was done. After half an hour Albert heard an explosion and his brothers returned to state that they had blown the safe. Albert drove the car to Linton aid from there to Otaki, where the parly arrived’at 4 a.m. Here Lawrence and Joseph got out, and Albert and the women saw them break open the door of the factory. A man came

along and the occupants of the car crouched down in the car in hiding. The two brothers had rushed out of the factory on to the railway line, and they returned to the car. Albert drove home to Manakau, and Lawrenre and Joseph here went out to hide what they had got. Their pockets bulged with stuff, but they did no't show it to Albert or the women. On January 31 Lawrence and Joseph told Albert that some days previously they had gone to Pahiatua and obtained gelignite. Albert then drove them to Pahiatua his mother and sister accompanying the party. Albert called up at the railway station at the request of his brothers, who returned later to state that they had blown the safe. They had a eashbox with them. Albert said'they had better stop it as he did not want to be concerned in any trouble. When the ear was passing through the Manawatu Gorge the two brothers threw the box into the liver. Lawrence handed Albert £3, stating that it would pay lor the benzine. Lawrence and Joseph planted some gelignite beside the house at Manakau. On January 22 Albert went to To Awamutu in the car, in company with his wife and sister, to see his brother in prison there. Before this Lawrence and Joseph had told Albert that they intended breaking into a theatre at Lower Hutt. On January 28 Albert, was told that the safe in the theatre at Lower Hutt had been broken into, although by whom it was not known. Albert did not know anything about the Day’s Bay.'burglary. The three accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial at the next sitting ol: the Supreme Court at Palmerston North.