AUCKLAND SENSATION

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11435, 3 February 1923, Page 3

AUCKLAND SENSATION

YOUNG WOMAN AND BURGLAR. A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. In respect to the attempt at burglary at Auckland, when a man entered a young woman’s bedroom, the “Herald” states that the young woman in question was subjected to a somewhat terrifying experience. The victim of the occurrence was Miss Bradney, daughter of Air J. H. Bradney. At 12..50 the other morning 6he was awakened by noises in her room, which is a front one, and a burning sensation on her mouth, caused by a piece of camphor-soaked lint. The room was in pitch darkness, but she discerned the figure of a man bending over a chest of drawers close to her bed. Thinking it might be her father, who was the only other occupant of the house at the time, she called out, “Who is there?’’

The man turned and cried, “Not a word, or I’ll choke you.” Aliss Bradney did not waste a moment, but jumped out of bed and called to her father, “There’s a man in the room.’’

Evidently taken aback by this act, the intruder beat a hasty retreat, jumping through the open window, through which he had come, and escaping into the road before Mr Bradney could reach the scene.

The night was a particularly dark one, and it was impossible to follow anyone down the road. A street lamp is situated opposite the house, and, when alight, brilliantly illuminates the front room through the bay windows. The light is extinguished regularly at midnight, so the intruder could safely count on complete darkness favouring his operations.

Miss Bradney was naturally affected injuriously by tile shock of her experience, and it was some time before she completely recovered. Investigations showed that the burglar had carried a wooden benzine box within the garden hedge to a position beneath the window, and had thus climbed into the room. The firs# thing he had done on reaching the floor was to place the square of lint over the sleeper’s face. It had been soaked ?n chemicals, which had been diagnosed as camphor, and produced a sickening sensation, as well as a stinging feeling where it touched the lips. The odour had a blinding effect on the sleeper when she awoke and produced a temporary helpless condition. That the attempted burglary was no haphazard exploit is suggested by the fact that the house was the scene of a successful burglary twelve months ago. On this occasion also the intruders showed surprising daring and deliberate purpose. Entering by the front door early in the evening while the family ■were engaged in a game of cards with a number of visitors in a back room, the burglars rifled the drawers in several rooms and escaped with about £4O worth of jewellery and £7O worth of clothes. The latter included a number of suits, a frock coat, and evening dress wear and other articles of attire, besides an umbrella belonging to one of the visitors.