WOMAN AND BURGLARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20296, 2 July 1929, Page 14

WOMAN AND BURGLARS.

ORDEAL IN A BEDROOM. STORY OF FEMININE PLUCK. A remarkable story of armed burglars, who were outwitted by a woman after, it was alleged, they had bound and gagged a man, was told at a London Tolico Court recently. James Lockhead, porter, and Norman Weedon, house porter, both young men, were charged on remand before Mr. Ilay Halkett with committing two burglaries. They were also charged that, being "armed with offensive weapons—a revolver and pistol—they assaulted Air. Parshotamdas Tribhonandas Vakharia, a student, and Miss Clara Goodman—both residing in different houses in Queensborough Terrace —and robbed the one of six £1 notes, 6s silver, an overcoat, etc., value £ls, and tho other of 3s 2d and a fountain pen, value 25s Bd.

On the night of April 27, said prosecuting counsel, tho accused entered 55, Queensborough Terrace, through a coalhole, and went into Miss Goodman's bedroom. Sho was awakened by the light from electric torches on her face, and behaved with extraordinary presonco of mind and courage. She took an aluminium water-bottlo from her bed, flung it across the room, and shouted to arouse the household. It was ineffective. The accused then came to her, and one of Ihcm put his hand over her mouth and said it was their business, and she must keep quiet.

Under cover of tho bed-clothes Miss Goodman slipped off two of the rings she was wearing and also a. wristlet watch and concealed them in the bed. She was ordered to show her hands, which sho did. Sho then had two rings on them. One she pleaded was her mother's wed-ding-ring, and the other she said she kept in memory of her sister. The accused relented and gave her back the rings. She also succeeded in getting them to return a silver clock which had a sentimental value. All tho accused found was 3s in the gas-meter and 2d in her purse. Before leaving she said tho men both apologised, saying they thought it was a man's room They said: " You have played the game with us, wo will do so with you if you will allow us to go quietly down (o the front door." They went out of (he room, saying, " If you hinder us in any way or make any fuss it will bo worse for you or anyone who trios to come in our way. Mr. Knight: "Were you afraid of these men in your room ?" Miss Goodman: "Terribly afraid bcforo (bo licrht was put on. because I had never had such an experience; but not afterward, even when the revolver was pointed at my head. When T saw Hint thev seemed (o bo young men I said, ' Why on earth have you come (o this sort oi tiling?' I think one, of them replied that he had no work and had a wife and children, but it was rather mumbled." Mr. Ilay Halkett, addressing Miss Goodman, said: " You are a woman of en-eat strength of character and courage. Tt was a terrible ordeal for von. And it was worse because it was in tho dark."