BREAKING AND ENTERING AT PARNELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9308, 18 September 1893, Page 4

BREAKING AND ENTERING AT PARNELL.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED.

A somewhat sensational case of breaking and entering a grocer's store in Parnell, belonging to Messrs. Foster Brothers, occurred at an early hour yesterday morning, and resulted in the culprit (a youth named Sydney Smith) being captured red-handed, although he made a bold dash to escape. The circumstances are as follow :—At about five o'clock in the morning a railway employee, in going through Parnell, noticed a light in Messrs. Foster's shop, next door but one to the Parnell Hall. Thinking the matter suspicious, he went to the police station in Henley-street, near the Ex change Hotel, and informed Constable Hutchinson of what he had seen. The constable knowing that no person lived on the premises at once proceeded to the vicinity of the shop and observed the light in the shop window. Before giving any alarm, and as he strongly suspected that some person was on the premises for the purpose of robbery, he aroused Mr. John Nottingham who lives in the vicinity, who at once came to Ids assistance. Cottingham went to the rear of the premises the constable going to the front, but it wa3 evident that whoever was inside had taken the alarm for the light was extinguished, It is necessary to explain that the building is of two storeys, and there is a verandah over the shop. The top storey was originally intended for a dwelling, but the Messrs. Foster reside in Garfield-street, about a-quarter of a mile from the shop, and used the upper rooms for the storage of goods. The shop verandah joins that of Mr. R. S. Briggs' private dwelling, a singlestorey building. Almost immediately after the light was extinguished Smith appeared at one of the upper windows and came on to the verandah, but, upon seeing the v.onstable below, he lay down to conceal himself. The constable called to him to coma down, saying at the same time that he knew him; but Smith, instead of replying, bolted to the verandah of Mr. Briggs' house, and clambered on to the roof, and by a daring leap, assisted, perhaps, by the spouting, by which he no doubt lowered himself as far as he could, he sprang into the back yard and ran in the direction of St. George's Bay, pursued by the constable and Mr. Nottingham, bub they lost sight of him. Hutchinson gave the alarm and others came to his assistance, 1 and Smith was finally run down and arrested on the beach. When charged, he made no reply, and when asked why lie did not coma down off the verandah when called on, he somewhat cheekily replied that that was nob his game. The constable noticed thai) he was lame, and asked him how ib occurred, and he replied that he hurt his foot when he jumped into Mr. Briggs' yard. The hurfV, however, was so severe that a cab had to be procured to convey him to the Auckland Police Station.

The accused, who is about 19 years of age, was employed in Mr. Brooks* boob factory, Parnell, and his parents are respectable, hardworking people, residing in the borough, bub they appear to have losb control of their son. When be was searched there were found on him Is 6d in coppers and a table-knife. It is nob known whether the coppers were obtained in the shop, for on making search it was found that 4s in coppers remained in the till, ana Mr. Foster did nob know the exact amount! left in it. It i 8 evident that entrance was effected through the upper floor window, through which Smith subsequently emerged. The accused will be charged ab the Police Court to-day, but no doubt a remand will be asked for to enable the police to prepare their evidence, the offence being an indict* able one. -j ; --.- ~....-,■ ■