HOUSEWIFE AND THIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23648, 4 November 1938, Page 4

HOUSEWIFE AND THIEF

TWENTY MINUTES’ LECTURE WOMAN WHO HATED MAKING A SCENE i From Our Own Correspondent) SYDNEY. Oct. 26. Surprising a man breaking into her home, Mrs Lilian Yeardye. of Marrickville, a. Sydney suburb, caught him by a wrist and gave him a 20-minute lecture. “It didn’t occur to me to scream,” she said afterwards. “I hate making a scene.” Vivacious and dark-eyed, Mrs Yeardye was resting at 10 a.m. when she heard a slight tapping at the front door. ‘‘l thought perhaps it was a hawker, so I didn’t bother to answer. It must have continued for nearly aquarter of an hour.” she said. 11 Then I heard a scratching sound, so I decided to see what it was. As 1 got to the front door, it opened from the outside. There stood a dark young man with about four inches of twisted wire which he had pushed into the lock. I caught hold of his wrist, and I held on. He admitted that he had intended to take what he could.” Mrs Yeardye decided to keep him in conversation until someone passed, then appeal to them for help. She estimated that at least 20 minutes elapsed before a butcher’s car drew up, and she called to the driver to telephone the police. At this the thief edged towards the garden gate, broke free, and jumped the fence. Along the street he was joined by a companion carrying a parcel. Passersby chased the pair, but they got away.