AID TO BURGLARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 4

AID TO BURGLARY

STRIPS OF CELLULOID ASSERTION BY DETECTIVE p.A. WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. Charged that on August 19 he was found by night in Levy’s Building, Manners street, without lawful excuse and that he was deemed to be a rogue and vagabond, William Bowers Bandy appeared before Mr Justice Cornish and a jury in the Supreme Court. After a retirement of 10 minutes the jury returned with a verdict of guilty, and the accused was remanded for sentence. Mr W. H. Cunningham prosecuted and Mr K. T. Matthews appeared for the accused. Alfred Huett. the caretaker of the building, gave evidence of finding the accused in the. building on the second floor. The accused said he had been visiting friends. Witness called the automatic lift and told the accused to “ get in and get out.” He allowed the lift to go down six feet and then broke the contact, stranding the lift. He then summoned a constable.

Constable L. H. Maher gave evidence of finding seven strips of celluloid in the lift well, and Constable H. F. Lisette, of the Criminal Registration Branch, said he found another strip of celluloid in the well. He had exainined the eight pieces of celluloid and found Bandy's fingerprints on four of them. Detective W. C. Harper said it was a well-known fact that strips of celluloid were used to open Yale, locks. Cross-examined by Mr Matthews, witness said he could open any door in court with a strip of celluloid.