On This Day, 18 October 1917

Birmingham Mail

Friday 18 October 1917

AN UNSUSTAINED CHARGE

Albert Cornfield (23), hawker, 9 court, 4 house, Blews Street, was charged in the First Birmingham Police Court, today, with breaking and entering the dwelling house of Nellie Baxter, 23, Porchester Street.

Prosecutrix said she went out at 8 o’clock on the night of the 11th leaving the house secure, and on returning at 11 o’clock she found the back door open and the lights turned up. Cornfield was a friend of her husband, who is a soldier. About an hour afterwards she went to the house of Cornfield’s young lady in Milton Street, and asked Cornfield, who was there, if he had been to her house, and he said he had not. She told him someone had and she was going to report the matter to the police.

In reply to Mr. P. Baker, who appeared for accused, witness said she had two young lady friends, the wives of soldiers, living at her house. When she returned home her gold watch was safe in a drawer in her bedroom where she had left it. Nothing in the house had been disturbed with the exception of the bedding which was in disorder.

When arrested by Police-sergeant Taylor shortly after midnight prisoner, in reply to the charge, said: “Me. That’s sure to be right.” Prisoner did say in conversation that he had not been to Mrs. Baxter’s house.

Mr. J. Phillips, the presiding magistrate, said the Bench thought Cornfield had no case to answer, and he would be discharged.