THE BURGLARY MANIA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 221, 18 September 1893, Page 2

THE BURGLARY MANIA.

BREAKING AND ENTERING AT

PARNELL,

A CLEVER CAPTURE.

The usual calm repose of some residents in Parnoll was disturbed on Sunday morning by a genuine sensation in the capture of a young man named Sydney Smith, in tho act of leaving promises that had been illegally entered. When he appeared at the Police Court this morning he limped badly. The charge preferred against him waa that on the 17th of September, at Parnell, he did feloniously break nnd enter the warehouse of Percy George Foster and others, situated in Manukau Road, with infcent to commib felony. Captain Anderson and Mr J, Gordon were on the Bench.

Sergeant Gamble said tho prisoner waa only arrested yesterday morning. He therefore aßked for a remand until next Thursday.

Tho Bench asked: Is the prisoner crippled ?

Sergeant Gamble replied : Ho jumped off the roof of a house when trying to escape from tho police, and hurt his leg.

Captain Anderson asked if the man's hurt would bo attended to if the remand was granted.

Sergeanb Gamble said the gaol surgeon would attend him, whereupon the remaud was granted.

The circumstances connected with the prisoner's arrest are more than usually interesting. A railway employee, when passing Messrs Foster's shop about ' 5 o'clock on Sunday morning noticed a lighb in the premises. This shop is situated next the Parnell Hall, and consequently not far from the local police station. Instead of passing on, the discoverer very wisely went and called up Constable Hutchinson. This officer, knowing that no person resided on Messrs Foster's premises, lost no time in going back with his informant. Constablo Hutcbineon recognising that the occupant of the shop mighb be a slippery customer to deal with, withcommondablecaution called up Mr John Cottingham, who at once wenb with him. The building is a two-storey one with a verandah across the pavement. Mr Cottingham went to the back of the premises to cut off the man's retreat, while Constable Hutchinson was stationed in the front. Apparently, tho intruder had heard footsteps as the light was extinguished, and shortly afterwards a man came out of one of the upper windows and stepped on to the verandah. Upon seeing the consbable, he lay down. Hutchinson, however, called to him to come down, and added, "I know you." The man, however, made a bold

DASH FOR LIBERTY., He stepped on to the verandah of the adjoining tbop, belonging to Mr Briggs, and clambored on to the roof. From this ho made a daring leap ,to the back yard, and ran in the direcbion of St. George's Bay. The leap w&.b a high one, and it is more than probable that he lowered himself aomedietanca down the spouting and jumped the remainder. Hutchinson and Cobtingham pursued the runaway, giving tho alarm on tho way. This broughb Mr Rusaell, junior, and others tp assist in the chase. Although lamed by his jump, Smith made good time, but was ultimately

CAPTURED IN ST. GEORGE'S BAY.

When aeked why he had not come off the verandah when called, Smith replied that was not hia game, He also said he had hurt hia foot) when ho jumped into Mr Briggs' yard. This injury was so severe that a cab had to be procured to convoy the prisoner to tho station, and this morning he had to be almosb carried to from the Court by a couple of constables.

Sydney Smith is tho son of respoctable, hard-working parents who reside in Parnell. He is about 19 years of age, and was employed in Messrs A. and G. Brooks' boob factory. Evidently, he did not get much in the shop, because, when searched, eighteenpence in coppers uud a table knife were his sole possessions. Aboub 4s in coppers had nob been taken from the till,