Accidents & Offences

New Zealand Mail, Issue 753, 6 August 1886, Page 30

Accidents & Offences

THE BURGLARY IN MANNERS-

STREET.

A JEWELLER’S SHOP ENTERED.

FURTHER INFORMATION.

Mr F. H. Fraser, whose bookseller's shop is next door, states that he was engaged at clerical wdrk till about 2 o’clock on the previous morning and heard no one moving about at the back, or any noise calculated to arouse suspicion. He, however, fancied he heard the tones of a woman’s voice in conversation with some one in the street at a late hour. This, of course, would be no very unusual occurence considering the locality and the Dumber of passers-by at all hours of the night. Mr Garbes, and Mr Freeman’s premises are divided by an ordinary shingle fence, over which the robbers must have had little difficulty in getting, as in addition to a small hand ladder, a number of fish cases are kept in the yard. Nor would there he any difficulty in gaining access' to Mr Garbes' yard from Manners-street, as a portion of the fence in the. right-of-way is cut away. Mr Freeman also has a passage leading from Mannersstreet to his back premises, through which it is possible that the burglars went. The apertnre made through the window into Mr Freeman’s back sitting-room represented a space quite large enough to admit a man, bnt the window was repaired again during the day. Some noise must have been made during the opßration of cutting the framework of the window, which would appear to have been done by a chisel or knife. The detectives have taken charge of the beading and panes of glass, one of which seems to have been first taken out by picking away the putty, in order to get with greater ease at the beading and framework of the window. Two panes were removed, each measuring lQin by llin. We understand that Mr Freeman’s suspicions are directed to a man and a woman who have several times visited hia shop lately with a view to trade with him in _ the purchase or exchange of certain articles. Mr Freeman was not in the habit of putting the better class of his goods in a safe at night, as is the custom of most jewellers, and this fact was doubtless fnily known to the thief or thieves.

Inspectors Shearman and Browne, and Detectives Chrystal and Campbell, made an inspection of the premises yesterday week, but there was an absence of footmarks or any other clue about at the time. Particulars of the natnre of the robbery have been forwarded throughout the Colony,, so that, unless the thieves have funds enough to wait before disposing of their booty, or can get out of the country,'there is strong.probability that the miesing property will be traced. The list of the articles Btolen, so far as can, at present, be ascertained, is as follows 10 silver lever hunting watches, 3 keyless ladies’ gold Geneva watches, 30 silver English lever hnnting watches, 69 ladies’ gold gem rings, 10 gold lockets, 25 sets of gold brooches and earrings, 24 plain wedding rings, 1 gold repeater watch, 1 pair of diamond earrings.