AN UNINVITED GUEST.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 105, 9 June 1914, Page 7

AN UNINVITED GUEST.

BURGLAR IN THE PALACE.

INTRUDER EXPLAINS HIS ACTION

By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright (Received June 9, 8.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 8.

Harry Pike, at the Bow Street Police Court, stated that he wanted to test the possibility of entering Buckingham Palace because of the suffragette allusions to the subject. He admitted that he had been drinking for several days, and explained that he climbed the railings on Constitution Hill and got over the spiked wall. He dropped twenty feet into the area, and gained admission through a basement window. He then ascended a staircase to the long corridor at the top of the palace, and entered a room where he changed his torn clothing.

Next -he entered a second chamber, alarming two sleeping maid servants and apologised for his mistake. Pinally he entered a room where James Cople, the Queen's Page was sleeping. Cople awoke, and the intruder was pursued and; captured. Mr Muskett stated'*that Pike seemed to .be respectable, and his action was evidently a freak, &nd, due to his having. been drinking. The police* were inclined to accept his explanation. . Cople gave evidence ta the effect that the lloor wliere Pike was captured gave access ,to the whole palaces The Magistrate pointed out that/there had been several articles. Pike was remanded»for a week.