ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4639, 5 February 1894, Page 3

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

r The two men William Biggins and W. J. Hamilton, oharged with burglariously entering the Royal hotel on Friday evening lost, were brought before Messrs Prioe and Butement, J.P'i this morniog, at the Masterton R.M, Court,

The accused pleaded not guilty. Lily Ivesfj barmaid at the Royal Hotel, gave, evidence that she retired at ahout 11 o'clock on Friday night Her room was near the lire escape, and on going to it found two men in the passage, -Witness was startled at seeing the men, and asked what they were doing there, and added that they', '' had better go down as quick as they came." The men now before the Court were the same, After the acoused had been removed witness had seen th<* door of the fite escape, and noticed that the catch and a portion of the woodwork \m broken. Had never seen the accused previously. No one entered the house. by tho fire ercape 'except hoarders, who then gave notioe to Mrs Rayner, Higgins had told witness he would not go back but would do as be liked when witness spoke to him. Miss Corbett (who was with witness) went down stairs to call Mr Rayner. The men went outside and afterwaids said thgy would set fire to the plaoe. Witness denied that accused had applied for beds or knocked at the door in a proper manner as stated by ihem.

Constance Corteft, step-daughter Io ' Mr Rayner,. gave corroborative evidence.

Higgins here stated that thoy had no intention of doing any harm when they entered the house,

Thomas Charles Rayner, deposed that he had been called by Mk Corbett, who told him that two strangers were upstairs by the fire escape door, Was about fa go upstairs to them, when they came dowji, 9nd witness asked the men what business they had upstairs, and got no satisfactory reply from eit her. Searohed Higgins, and findinguono ot the hotel property on him put him outside. While witness was doing this Hamilton slipped out, himself. After the dooijwas closed one of the men bit the door, and made the remark that he would,set'fire to the house, Thereupon sent information to the police. On examining the fire escape door found it broken in. The aocuaed were Btrangew to witness, and he'bad not seen them before last Friday night. The firo escape door was never used by persons wishing to enter the home to obtain a drink, ana 1 only by boarders who might be out late. In that case {ho uigbt-potler Was instructed to keep a look-out and unlock the door when required. Had never givon the accused permission to enter the hotel by the fire escape, Coustable Martin Casbion gave evidenoo of the arrest of Hiqgiflß and Hamilton.

This closed the case for the prosecution.

The Bench decided that the evidenoe was sufficient to send the case to a jury, and accused were committed to take, their trial bt the next criminal sessions on March sth.

-Two other charges agnirjst aroused, one nf larceny another of being on prcraiS'B without lawful excuse, were withdrawn by the police.