BURGLAR AS GUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 1514, 9 November 1912, Page 2 (Supplement)

BURGLAR AS GUEST.

WEALTHY GIRL'S JEWELLI.I VONT After a long and seemingly ho, --' "-js quest, the American police have at ';rust laid their hands on one of the most daring and resourceful burglars in the United States. As far back as July 7 George Witson, while undergoing sentence in a Now York prison, escaped in a sensational manner after felling the keeper with a cold chisel. Having rendered the warder senseless, he hid in the recesses of the prison, and, armed with the guard's revolver, got safely away. His arrest came about in a pecular way. Since his escape Witson has been posing as wealthy young man, and living at one of tho most fashionable hotels at Atlantic City. He was welldressed, and none of the guests- suspected that he was anything but what he claimed to be. He made friends with several people in the hotel, among them a Miss Lily Price, a very wealthy girl. At dinner, during a conversation on burglaries, Miss Price' declared she thought it would be highly romantic to see a masked burglar in her room, and said that, though she would bo greatly frightened, she was sure she would not ecream. Her desire to see a burglar was gratified, Tor Witson, after everyone in the hotel had retired, put on a mask, and, proceeding to the young lady's room, threatened her with a revolver, and made a rich haul of jewels and money. Th? girl did not cream, and Witson got safely away with the loot. _ The following morning Miss Price notified the management of ITie hotel, who called in the police. In his character as hotel guest Witson was with Miss Price offering her his sympathy for her loss. Tho man's picture had been widely 'circulated, and the police immediately recognised him as a criminal wanted in New York. They arrested him, and when he was searched" t'ae young lady's gems were found in his pocket.