Attempted Burglary at Stratford.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 61, 1 February 1895, Page 2

Attempted Burglary at Stratford.

(Egmont Post.) For some time past the officials at the Stratford Railway Station have bad reason to believe that attempts had been made to enter the goods shed during the night, with a view to abstract articles from cases on platform there. At length Mr % Ayre, stationmaster, determined to lay in ambush, with the view to discover how far bis suspicions were justified. Accordingly he made preparations to spend th& night in the goods shed, the porter, a young man named Sole, agreeing to keep him company. All their preparations were quietly made, bedding provided, the munitions of war, indispensable on such occasions, not being forgotten. Part of their paraphernalia was a dark lantern, and being thus equipped they made their way into the goods sheds, there to await farther developments. They had not long retired when a noise was made as if someone was outside trying the doors, but of this noise no potice was taken, the watchers lying quiet. Towards day-break the footsteps of a man were heard on the platform inside the goads shed, the man evidently having effected an entrance by means of a key, the watchers having been overcome by drowsiness and dropped off into slumber. Mr Ayre noiselessly approached the spot where the sound was heard, and suddenly shouted out, “ Hold op your hands, or I’ll shoot you.” The intruder, terrified by this imperative command, in quaking tones, replied, “ Oh, for God’s sake, don’t shoot a poor old fellow like me.” On examination, the burglar proved to be a man named Donald Stewart, who had, till recently, been employed as groom at Mr Rowe’s livery stables. He was now iu such a terrible state of trepidation, that he was scarcely able to stand, so great was his fright. Leaving him in charge of the porter, Mr Ayre went for the police, and Stewart was given into custody, on a charge of being illegally on the premises, and was removed to the lock-up. Credit itf" due to the railway officials for the prompt steps they took to obtain confirmation of their suspicions, which, as the sequel showed, proved to bs well founded.

He was brought up before the local justice and remanded.