LONG ARM OF LAW

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1939, Page 5

LONG ARM OF LAW

ADVENTURE IN CRIME CUT SHORT The three London lads looks round them carefully. The street was empty. They nodded at each other, and with the agility of youth they climbed over the high gate in front of them. On the other side of the gate was the bank of a canal. They filed along beside the water until they came to a deserted warehouse, and once more they peered round at the silence of the canal and the tall brick walls. All seemed safe. They swarmed one by cue up a slack-pipe, climbed through a window. and dropped to the dusty floor. “Here wo are," panted George. “Did anyone see, us?" said Ernest.. “See us?” said John. “No one saw us.” “They squared their shoulders with a boyish bravado, and began to explore the echoing rooms of the warehouse; and from the other side of the canal a man who had seen them was already speaking on the telephone to Scotland Yard. The machinery of the police worked swiftly and smoothly. A wireless message from the Yard diverted a Flying Squad car towards the warehouse. Telephone messages brought constables in dozens from police stations. Within 10 minutes the warehouse was surrounded. One of the cockney lads glanced through a window and saw the gathering of the siefie “Psts!” he hissed. “It’s the coppers.” “Where are they?” “All round.” “What’ll we do, then?” “You follow rne,” said George. He led the way down the stack-pipe. Constables converged upon them as they reached the bank of the canal. George dived instantly into the water, and Ernest and John followed him. The constable turned and ran toward a bridge that stradled the canal. They climbed upon it, ran to the other side, and jumped 20ft. to land on the further bank. The three cockney lads emerged dripping from the water, and strong hands grasped them by the shoulders. “YoTi’d better ’come along with us,” said the constables. “We’re arresting you for being found on enclosed premises for an unlawful purpose. And you’d better get those clothes off before you catch your death of cold." George, Ernest, and John said nothing at "all. The great adventure was over, and water was running into their eves. It was a fair cop.

In the morning they stood in the court at Clerkenwell. They were clad in their best suits, and their hair was smooth, and their eyes were wide. Thev had the air of boys who had decided that the feats of Raffles were all right in the pages of fiction, but were rather unprofitable in real life. Mr. Brodrick, on the Bench, smile'! down at their small and sheepish fronts. “Well,” he said, “and what do you want to say about this you boys ?" “Very sorry, sir." muttered George. “Sorry, sir.” echoed Ernest. “And me, sir,” said John.

Air. Brodrick directed his smile toward the detective who stood in the witness box. “How old are thesei boys.” he asked. "One of them is IT, sir, and the ether two are Hi. They all have good characters, sir.” ‘1 can only deal with one of them, then.” said Mr. Brodrick. He addressed himself to George. “If I bind you over and put you on probation.” he said, “will you promise not to do this kiirl of thing again? You will? That's good. You’re bound over, then, and ptti. on probation for 12 months.” He turned to Ernest ami John. “You two lads,” he added, “will bo sent to the Juvenile Court."

Tim three cockney boys who had tried to bring Raffles back to life filed decorously from the court; and when they had gone Mr. Brodrick leaned back in his chair with a twinkle in his eyes.