Telegraphic News.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 1287, 16 November 1888, Page 2

Telegraphic News.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

INTERPROVINGIAL

[from our own correspondent] ChrisI'CHURCH, Nov. 15. A fire broke out at Sunnyside asylum to-day but not very much damage was done. Ever since the burglar Murray effected his second escape from Addington gaol on Thursday last there has been considerable uneasiness amongst the residents of Lyttelton. The true character of the man was not made known until he was captured on the Governor's Bay road by Constable McCormack, and then it waa evident that he was a very desperate fellow and would make a violent attempt on any person who attempted to lay hands on him. This uneasiness was removed to some extent on Wednesday when it was reported that he was seen on the top of the hill between Pigeon Bay and Port Levy on Monday last, as it was thought that he had given Lyttelton best, and had made off for the thick bush of the Peninsula, where he might hope to evade his pursuers. No sooner were the good folks of Lyttelton beginning to congratulate themselves that at least for some little time they might retire to rest without the thought of being awaked boforo morning by the iniruder ransacking their cupboards in search of a midnight meal, thnn Murray is seen near Lyttelton. The first report the police received of his presence in the vicinity of ijyttelton was at about 8 p.m. last night, when a note came fora the master of the Orphanage, Mr Brownlee. to the effect that while walking in the. Domain several of his boys had observed Murray hiding behind one of the trees. The time the boys sighted the man was about 3 30 p.m., hut for some reason best known to themselves they did not think the information worth telling to anyone until tea, when Mr Brownlee happened to hear one of the lads mentioning the fact, and lost no time in informing the police. Sergeant O'Mally took all the available men round the Governor's Bay road, with two of the Orphanage boys for guides. There, sure enough, "they found the grass all trodden down around one of the trees, but the bird had flown. A thorough search was made, but without result, and the overworked officers returned to Port again. The next thing was the tale of his appearance at the Rev. J. Hill's residence on the Sumner road. Mr Hill's house ia situated not more than two hundred yards from the Police Station, and in a thickly populated part of the town. ' This, however, was not the only house he visited last night, for on waking up this morning Mr Nalder, who lives next door to Mr Hill, found that bis house had also been entered, and Mr Palmer had a like experience. His residence is a few yards further round the road. From Mr Hill's statement we give the following : At about two this morning I was awakened by a noise downstairs, and on opening my eyes I at once observed the glare of a light moving I got up very gently and peeped down the stairs, when I saw that the light was coming from the front door along the hall. I waited a few minutes, and then saw the Maori with a candle in his hand. He had evidently not heard me, and was peeping into my study, moving about without making the slightest noise. I took in the situation at once, and, although I had not previously seen Murray, concluded that the objoct of my gaze was he. I went to my son's room and woke him, informing him of the facts, and we both made a dash down the stairs. At almost the first step wo took the light diss appoared the intruder having evidently heard us. I made at once to the window where I thought he had come in and found it open. Still thinking he had not got clear of the house we lighted a candle and commenced to search the rooms. In the study on the table we found the pair of boots I am now wearing doubtless placed ready for carrying away, On a small table in the hail was found a match box which he had emptied and I concluded that in putting the box back on the table he had awakened me. In the kitchen we found two or three loaves of bread put together on the table. The coats banging in the hall were disarranged, and a pipe and some tobacco missing an I also a cloth cap. This morning after daylight a large knife was found on the kitchen table. It had at one time been a carving knife but had been gtound down and now resembled a dagger, it was very sharp at the point and at both sides and although very thin as it was mado from good steel it was very stiff and would resist considerable pressure. If Murray had carried that knife with him when he ransacked the rooms I fully believe he would hive stood and fought us when we came down the stairs, but as he bad nothing and was fortunately a coward he made off which I am most thankful he did, Murray's visit to Mr Nalder's was evidently undertaken in quest of food, for after robbing a safe, which was outside, of a joint, of roast beef, a Yorkshire pudding, and one of three pounds of butter, he effected an entrance through a buck window, and further ransacked the kitchen. "Fortunately," adds Mr Naider, "the door leading from the kitchen to the other portion of the house was locked, or he would have been all over the house." Although his visit to Mr Palmer's, liko that to Mr Nalder's, was unobserved, there can be littlo doubt that he was there. As

in the other two cases, he got in through a back window, and after helping himself to all the good things in the kitchen, he commenced to ransack the otbor portions of the house. Some jam and bread wore taken. He must go about in a noiseless manner, as it waa nearly eleven o'clock before the occupints of the house, Mr Harvey and Mr and Mrs Palmer, retired to rest. Aa the robbory must hive been committed before Mr Hill'a house waa entered, his time was short. Candle grease was found along the pasßage and in the drawing room, consequently his tactics must have been similar to those of which Mr Hill was a witneas. Although walking about within a very few yards of the occupants of the house, he managed to get away unheard, and it is well for himself that he did, for in the room where Mr Palmer slept was a loaded revolver. It will be remembered that after the first occasion on which he broke prison, he robbed Harvey and Palmer's shop in Osford street, and ever since his second escape Mr Palmer has taken the precaution of being " prepared for him.'' as in Murrey's presence he had identified the articles stolen from hia shop after the capture by Constable McCormack. It was.only a fluke that Murray miased getting possession of that revolver. It appears that Mr Palmer had left it in the kitchen, and after going to bed was reminded of this by bis wife, and at once went and brought it into the bedroom ; otherwise Murray would certainly have got it. A pair of boots and a valuable pipe were missed this morning from the house. Mr Hill, jun., went and informed the police of what had occurred, and Constables Drake and Heavey were on the hill in leaa than fifteen minntea. They searched about until eight o'clock, but discovered no trace.