Stains on a man’s trousers caused by a substance exactly similar to the moss on the roof of a conservatory at a Rushden house; a footprint in the garden that corresponded with the man’s right shoe; a button found lying near the hedge surrounding the garden and the fact that a button was missing from the man’s coat – these were the features of scientific evidence given in a case at Northampton on Friday.
George Drew (53) automatic machine operator, Old Windsor, Berks, was charged with breaking and entering “The Croft,” Newton Road, Rushden, on December 14th, and stealing jewellery to the value of £28 13s, the property of Mabel Denton.
Drew, who was also charged with breaking into a house at Northampton and stealing jewellery and coins worth £24 17s on December 16th, was committed for trial at Northampton Assizes.
He pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence.
Shoe Marks
Evidence was given by Police Sergt. Thompson, Rushden, that he was called to “The Croft” about 5.30 p.m. on December 14th and found that entry had been made to the house by way of the conservatory door and an insecure scullery window. In the front bedroom, drawers had been opened and the contents strewn about.
He found that paintwork on the ledge of the back bedroom window, which was open, had been scratched. The window was immediately above the red-tiled moss-covered roof of the conservatory, and marks on the roof indicated that someone had slipped down it from the bedroom window, a distance of seven feet, to the ground eight feet below.
On the garden beneath the window were the prints of a right shoe and of the heel of a left shoe. Both prints showed that the heels were fitted with round rubber heels.
Sergt. Thompson added that the hedge surrounding the garden had been damaged by someone forcing a way through.
Detective Constable Goodings, Northampton Headquarters, gave evidence of taking plaster casts of the footprints, and said that near the hedge in the garden he found a button.
Button “Been Off Ages”
Det.-Sergt. Watson, Northampton, said that while Drew was in custody in connection with the Northampton housebreaking charge, he saw that he was wearing shoes which would make impressions similar to those left in the garden at “The Croft.” Dec.-Inspector Lee, of the Northamptonshire Constabulary, was informed, and the shoes were compared with the casts.
Sargt. Watson added that on December 18th he took possession of Drew’s trousers, on the right leg of which was a green stain.
Detective Inspector Lee gave evidence of the similarity between Drew’s shoes and casts taken of the prints. He said that when he saw Drew at the Northampton Police Station on December 17th he was wearing a jacket from which a button was missing. Drew said, “That’s been off ages.” When the green stain on his trousers was pointed out to him he said, “That’s nothing,” and when charged replied, “I know nothing about it.”
Inspector Lee said that he took some scrapings of moss from the roof of the conservatory at “The Croft” and took them, together with Drew’s trousers, to the Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Nottingham.
Under The Microscope
P.C. McCarthy, Houghton Regis, Beds, said that he saw Drew driving a blue saloon motor on the Ampthill-Bedford road about 1.55 p.m. on December 14th. He was travelling in the direction of Rushden, which is about 32 miles away. He reported to the Ampthill Police Station that he had seen Drew and a message was immediately circulated.
Dr. H. S. Holden, Director of the Nottingham Laboratory, gave evidence of examining the moss and the trousers. He said that he removed a portion of the stain from the trousers and examined it microscopically. He found it consisted of three lowly forms of plant life, the eggs of a microscopic animal and small angular mineral fragments. He compared this with the moss scrapings and formed the opinion that the animal and vegetable fragments were identical.
Dr. Holden also spoke of examining scrapings taken from a tile from the conservatory roof, which was sent to him, and said that they were identical with the other scrapings.
Bail Application
After Mr. J. Burge (defending) had entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of Drew, he made a strong application for bail, which was opposed by Mr. H. Musk Beattie, on behalf of the police. Mr. Burge said that it was essential that Drew should be able to return to Old Windsor in order to see witnesses whom he might wish to call. He also mentioned that Drew had an action pending in which he was claiming £2,000 in connection with a café on the Watford by-pass, and inrespect of which he had already obtained an injunction.
The magistrates refused bail, and Mr. Burge suggested that it would be necessary for him to make his application to a judge in chambers.
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