MASKED BURGLAR

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 74, 24 September 1927, Page 11

MASKED BURGLAR

BOY'S STRANGE STORY CHILDREN BOUND AND GAGGED (By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Eveninn Post.") MASTEBTON, Thin Day. It has been reported to tho po'lieo that a maskod burglar b'rolto into an isolated houße in Makora road oh Wednesday night, bound and gngged a six-toon-year-old boy and a small girl, and tlien searched tho houso and stolo some money. The house is situated apart from other residences in MRkora road, on tho outskirts of Mastorton, and is occupied by Mr. H. Brcworton, carpentor, of Masterton, and his family. On Wednesday night. Mr. BrewertonV son Was at home studying, tho lights being full on. In a bodroom was a girl of fivo years, a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Browerton, who were absent from tho houso at tho time.

The boy's story is that at about 7.30 p.m. he becamo aware of tho fact that a man was in tho room, having apparently entered through tho door. Tlio intruder was dressed in a brown suit, wore a black hat, and had tho upper part of his face concealed by a mask made from white calico. A scuffle ensued"botween tho two, in which tho boy, when attempting to snatch tho mask from the man's face, was struck on tho jaw. Ho fell and was halfstunned through striking his head on the fender.

' The boy was bound with his hands behind his back and gagged with a handkerchief, which was secured with string. Tho intrudor next visited the bedroom, of the little girl, and bound hor hands and feet with string, tying a thick scarf about hor face. Returning, he searched the boy's pockets and romoved fourteen shillings.

While he wa3 engaged at this, the: girl in tho other room had worked tho scarf off her face, and called out several times to the boy, but the man appeared to take no notice of her cries. He ransacked tho house and broke into ft money-box, removing a small sum, before taking his departure.

The boy relates that ho struggled to his feet, and by working tho string that bound his hands against tho sharp edge of the catch of the door, succeeded in freeing himself. Ho at once telephoned to tho police, and, visiting the bedroom, released tho girl.

The police proceeded to tho scene, but could find no traco of tho intruder, of whom they could obtain from the boy no accurate description.