RAIDED HOMES AT NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

RAIDED HOMES AT NIGHT

Woman Burglar With Neighbours She Robbed

'IN innocent-looking, silver-haired woman of 56 was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at East Kent Quarter Sessions after confessing to an amazing series of burglaries. By her neighbours at Greatstone, the popular seaside bungalow town on Romney Marshes, she was regarded as a quiet, respectable homely wife and citizen. But police, who searched her house found in an attic several hundred articles worth more than £3OO, which she had stolen from 15 bungalows in the district.

THOUGH she was indicted in the name of Elizabeth Mary • Nicholls, housekeeper, of Greatstone, the police revealed that her real name was Elizabeth Mary Hoare, and that she had? been in prison previously for a Post Office theft,

| representing the prosecution, Mr. [ H. J. Baxter told the Court that in I addition to the three charges in the ! indictment to which she had pleaded i guilty, she wished 12 other cases of breaking and entering to be considered. "Almost all the articles stolen were found in her house, apart from a few things she said she had given to relatives," declared Mr. Baxter. "It does not seem to be the work of a professional thief —a person who 6teals articles and sells them —but it is remarkable that this woman was able to remove such large quantities of stuff, including heavy articles. Worked Alone "In a,statement to the police, she declared she had always worked on her own. There is certainly no evidence to the contrary. Her method was to break a pane of glass near the locks of doors, and open the door from the inside, but on occasions she forced the catches ■ of windows and climbed through." Detective-Sergeant Leslie Hadlow of Asliford, revealed that "Mrs. Nicholls" was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at ' the Old Bailey, London, in 1919 for stealing 10 £5 notes and five 20s postal orders while employed as a sorter at Mount Pleasant Sortiug Office. Leaving school at 13, she lived with Hher parents at Beckenham until she was 18, when she went into domestic service. She remained in the same situation fof 16 years, leaving only on the death of her employer. Then, from August, 1917, until June, 1919. she was a temporary sorter at Mount Pleasant. She resigned of hor own accord, and the theft for which she was sentenced was, then discovered. Total value of the articles she stole was £304, and all the thefts took place

Police and residents of Greatstone had been bailed by the robberies for more than 18/ months, but no one suspected for a moment that "Mrs. Nicholls," as she was known, was the mysterious intruder. Always working at night and alone, she would freely discuss the latest burglary with her neighbours, next day, and once she actually sympathised with a friend whose house she had entered, stealing several articles! Police Puzzled One thing which still puzzles the police is how she managed to remove the various articles to her own home, for they included heavy pieces of furniture, carpets, carpet-sweepers, complete dinner and teasets, bedding and bed-clothes, and even a lawn-mover. I'hb Woman told the police that she carried them all home herself, often paying several visits to a bungalow if it were unoccupied at the time. She is believed to have.pushed the lawn-mover nearly a mile along the road to her home.

When she appeared in the court clock, Mrs. "Nicholls" was -smartly dressed in a brown coat with a fur collar and a red hat, and she carried yellow gloves.. She is of attractive ap{•earance and it was difficult to beieve she was a self-confessed burglar.

at bungalows and houses within a mile of her own house.

Dr. J. M. M. Matheson, Governor and Medical Officer of Holloway Prison, expressed the view that "Nicholls" was not certifiable, but was suffering from mental instability. When admitted to the prison she was suffering from insomnia, but was now much better. She was still in need of attention, however —principally rest and freedom from anxiety.

Judge Clements: Do you think she is what is commonly' called a criminal? Dr. Matheson: I do not think so. Mr. David Wacher, defending, suggested that the thefts were the work, not of a normal person, but of a sick woman. Hp pointed out that in one room at the house the police found tliree carpets laid one on top of the other. He understood that "Nicholls" told people she received the stolen goods from a relative, who left them to her.

After "Mrs. Nicholls" was first interrogated bv the police, she disappeared from Greatstone. Later she gave herself up nt a London police station. Her clothes were saturated with water and she stated she had fallen into a pond on Hampstead Heath, but managed to climb out again.