A MOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15540, 23 August 1912, Page 5

A MOUTHFUL OFFENDER.

THIRTEEN BURGLARIES.

TASTE FOR ELECTRICITY,

(Fir United Pun Assocunoa.)

AUCKLAND, August 22. At his liomo at Herno Bay yesterday afternoon Kenneth Edward Ourne, a boy' under 16 years of age, waa arrested on sovcral chnrgcs of burglary. When taken into custody lto confessed to having com--mitted, lonehandcd, 13 burglaries within' the past four months, and no led tho detectives to a largo cupboard under tho stairs in his home whero he had hoarded up tho proceeds of the burglaries. The lad is well grown for his ago and works for a gunsmith. Ifis particular hobby is olcctricity, and his taste in literature runs to the sensational typo so common nowndavs. These testes are revealed in the hoard of elcctrical appliances and the manner of their accumulation. ' He lnd the kev of the cupboard which was dedicated to Ihim and his works, and unknown to his parents (people of unquestioned good character and position) he made lib r.dvcnturoiifi trim to town early in tho evenings and on Sundays, so his confession runs.

Tlic fact that his ventures into burglary were contemporaneous with tho recent safe-breaking episodes rather mixed matters for tlx> dcteclivos, who for a timo were inclined to suspect a connection between the two classes of burglary. But the safe-breaking was discontinued, and tho more potty breaks went on, whilo small evidences left behind bespoke youth in the person or persons who trespasser), It was thought that several youths wer<) implicated, but tfio lad Currio asserts that nc carried out the offences without assistance, obtaining admittance in most eases f ii' " 1 , 1 lie I act that the whole of tho missing property lias been found in his possession tends to corrolmratn his words, for between tho 20th of Mav and last Saturday l.'urric in this way collected electrical batteries, accumulators, and other appliance® approximating in value £79 5s 6d. In addition he visited other shops, collectin? Hwpcclively at each place tobacco nnd cigarettes, bottles of scent, and offico accessories. He also got £7 in money. He visited some of these places moro than once.

% this arrest, in conjunction with tho previous and more sensational ones, the police have torn awav the mystery which shrouded the rather disturbing burglaries of the past few months, practically every reported cano having been covered or satisfactorily explained.The lad was brought before Mr E. C. Cuttcn, S.M., this afternoon, when tho' charges were reduced to common theft, and accused pleaded guilty. He was comlnit'.ed to tho Weraroa training farm.