I was an alternate on a jury in Hackensack, NJ back in the mid 90's. I did not have to cast a verdict during this trial.
A beauty salon in New Milford, NJ had been broken into over night and about $1300 was stolen. Four young adults were caught as they tried to exit the building.
A few hours later an observant patrol officer noticed a car with NY plates and the driver side window open was parked on a residential street a block away. He looked in the open window and saw the round end of a Luger magazine and part of a grip that was exposed from where it was stuffed into a seat. He wisely called for detectives who photographed the scene before doing a further search.
The Luger was a 1917 Erfurt and according to the prosecution had been appraised at $1400.00. There were rounds in the magazine but not one chambered. A box of 9mm ammo was found under a seat with the same # of rounds missing.
The car was registered to one of the boys fathers from Warwick, NY. The son who was arrested lived with his parents. The father claimed ownership of the pistol.
The jury found the young man guilty of the B&E but NOT guilty of
"possession of a loaded firearm" because the car window was open and "Someone could have put it there".
As far as I know the father did not get his Luger back from the Bergen County DA.
