Weighty Spoils

NZ Truth, Issue 998, 10 January 1925, Page 6

Weighty Spoils

STEEL SAFE STOLEN

Half- Caste Maori Arrested.

Some surprise was occasioned Lower Hutt Railway Station officials on Sunday morning last when the discovery was made that a 3%cwt safe had left its moorings and gone none knew whence. Investigation showed that the burglarious strong man had gained ingress through . a window which had been unlatched, and, after opening the platform door from the inside, had utilised a railway barrow to wheel his heavy burden several hundred yards north of the station. ■

. From that point on the task of following the missing safe devolved oh Detectives "Walsh, Thomas, Cooper and Walker, and the quartette did not for a moment let up until a late. hour on Wednesday night, when the safe was discovered man empty workshop m Stokes Street, Newtown. The steel back of the safe had been chiselled but and the monetary contents, said to be £40, was missing. Books and records from the station were still intact. By Thursday afternoon the detectives had so far advanced their investigations that they were m a position to make an arrest, and a half-caste Maori, Robert Campbell, alias Robert Kemera, was the man arrested.

Accused appeared before the Magistrate's Court on . Friday morning charged with breaking, entering and theft, and on the application of Chief Detective Kemp was remanded until Wednesday next, when, it is possible, a further remand may be asked 'for. It is stated that on • the Sunday morning the safe was conveyed from the Hutt to Wellington by motor lorry, a passing driver being hailed by 4 man who hoisted the safe aboard and explained that he was taking it to town for use m his business.