A WOMAN'S REVENGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 260, 24 March 1911, Page 5

A WOMAN'S REVENGE

ACCUSES MAN OF BURGLARY. SHE AFTERWARDS WITHDRAWS HER STATEMENT. By Telegraph.—Preas Association. Auckland, March 22. The remarkable story of an alleged Lurglary and arrest of the supposed house-breaker and the subsequent retraction of the charge was told to Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., at the Police Court, j to-day. On the night of the 15th inst. a woman named Mrs. Lindley called a police officer to her house and declared that she had seen a man enter by a window. The policeman and the lady entered the house, and she declared a number of household articles and a piece of jewellery were missing. The officer then made a search, but could find no one in the house. He went outside with Mrs. Lindley, and a man was seen close by. He was pointed out by Mrs. Lindley as being the intruder, and the constable invited him into the house, where he searched him. In several pockets ha found several articles identified by the woman as having been stolen. The man's name was William Tozer and he was taken into custody. Subsequently he was brought before the court charged with breaking and entering the house and stealing goods to the value of over £5. A REMARKABLE LETTER. Then Sub-Inspector Hendry received a remarkable letter from Mrs. Lindley in which she said: "I wish to let you know that the statement I made about the man Tozcr breaking and entering and stealing certain articles was untrue, and I have no intention to go to court and swear any I lies, as at the time 1 made the remarks I did not know what I was saying. I thought it only fair for all concerned to let you know. I am also notifying Tozer's solicitor of the above facts." When the case was called on to-day Sub-Inspector Hendry said it appearea that someone had attempted to tamper with the ends of justice. The woman Lindley before calling the police took a boy to her house and peering through the fence the lad saw the foot of a man disappearing through the window. Then when the accused was arrested she plainly accused the man in the presence of the officer. The boy gave evidence and a jeweller's traveller deposed to selling Mrs. Lindley a brooch which was found on accused. "I KNOW AND HATE." When Mrs. Lindley was called she appeared very excited. At first she emphatically refused to take the oath. 'l'll speak the truth without the Bible," she said. She was at last persuaded by the magistrate, and reluctantly responded "I do," to the exhortation of SubInspector Hendry. Sub-Inspector Hendry: You charged this man with stealing your property?— Yes; but it is not true. And you accused him of getting through the window?— Yes; but that was a false statement. The Sub-Inspector: Very well! toll the court your story. The witness related the following story: "I met this man, whom I know and hate, in Upper Queen street on that night, and whenever I see him he insults me and I hammer him. I can. He ran away and came up to my house and taunted me later in the evening. I said: Til swear he broke into my house,' and that's what I did." DESIRE TO DO MURDER. At times during her evidence witness became wildly excited, and alternately addressing the accused and her husband, who was standing at the back of the court, she expressed the hope that she would he able to murder thein both. The charge was altered to one of entering a dwelling-house and stealing, instead of breaking and entering, on account of insufficient evidence. Accused denied the offence. Mr. Cutten said he thought nothing would be gained by sending the case to a jury, and he dismissed the case.