COTTAGES STOLEN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9123, 16 April 1908, Page 7

COTTAGES STOLEN.

After an attack of influenza, which had kept him indoors for about a month, Mr John Morris Goodwin recently took a walk Green to see some of his cottages and wooden buildings, at 296,298 and 300, High road. To his astonishment he found the property gone 'comple'ely wiped off the earth’ was the expression Mr Goodwin used at Willesdeu Police Court. Joseph Griffiths, aged 35, Elizabeth Griffiths, aged 31, his wife, and George Morgan, aged 27, all living at 8, budding Hill Lane, Willesden, were accused of stealing a quantity of timber and building materials. According to the prosecutor the buildings were permanent and heavily tiled, and quite £2OO worth of damage had been done. —Over 20 tons of tsmber had been removed. Police Constable Bryant said that on February loth bo saw Morgan at work pulling down these premises. The officer had some conversation with accused, aud said. “Are you clearing them all away, old chap?” to which Morgan replied, ‘‘Yes, I have orders to shift ’em.” The officer saw Morgan working on the buildings several days, and one day he saw a building, Which he was knocking down, fall on him and bury him. Witness extricated Morgan, aud found that he was Dot much hurt. He went on with his work and pulled down all the buildings. Mrs ;Grlffith3 told the i Dmgigferate that 15 people were engaged in removing the property. All the accused were remanded for further inquiries.