BURGLARIES AT AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH. Auckland, July 14.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 17 July 1890, Page 13

BURGLARIES AT AUCKLAND AND CHRISTCHURCH. Auckland, July 14.

One of the most daring robberies, on a large scale, whioh has taken place in Auckland for some years past occurred on Saturday afternoon, when the premises of Mr Howden, jeweller, Queen street, were broken into and stripped of over £700 worth of jewellery by a young man named M'Lean, who was arrested before he got away with the booty.

On Saturday Mr Howden closes at 3.30, without putting up the shutters, and re-opens at 6.30. M'Lean, therefore, knew what time he had in which to operate. He got over the wall into the courtyard, and with a chisel prising up the wood on the half glass back door, soon effeoted an'entranoe. He then removed all' the jewellery from the shop 'bases, tied the articles in a'shefet to the extent of £240 worth, and put them in the yard ready for removal, and then went back an I cleared the window of watches to the extent of L 460. The most amusing part of the business is that as M'Lean removed them from the window in the deepening gloom, only relieved by the gas jets he had lit in the shop, and in the back room, he was seen doing so, but passers by pouring along Thought it was one of Howden's men putting the watches away in a safe, as the early closing movement was on. Mr Howden, returning for once contrary to his usual custom at a quarter to 6 instead of half-past 6 upset M'Lean's calculations. On calling at Gilbert's, next door, that gentleman asked him if he had anybody working inside. Howden replied in the negative, whereupon Gilbert retorted, " Then the rats have been going it inside." Howden, on opening his shop door, espied a man getting from behind the shop counter, and making for the back room. He at once called out to Gilbert, " Rush to the backdoor." Gilbert did so, pursued M'Lean up the yard, over a boundary wall, and after a hot run aecured him in High street, when a scrimmage took place in the mud. Constable Young, who was in the police guardroom, heard the outcries, and ran out and aided in scouring M'Lean, and arrested him. One of the most daring and skilfully phnnod robberies on a large scale which has taken place in Auckland for some years past Was thus frustrated. The surrounding circumstance point to M'Lean being a first-class • ; k cracksman," though new to Auckland. There is reason to believe that Howden'a.premises had been thoroughly examined, his habits— and those of his neighbour Gilbert, chemist — carefully noticed; and the day selected was favourable, owing to its gloomy and wet character, making the streets comparatively deserted. M'Lean had taken a quiet house at Mount Eden, where he had lived alone since he came to Auckland three weeks ago. Detective Herbert seached the dwelling, and found avyce, files, a skeleton key arrangement, and a key gauge. ' M'Lean was brought up at the police courb on Monday and committed for trial. It transpires that his Christian name is Alexander, and not George. He says he comes from Dunedin. The magistrates complimented Mr Gilbert (chemist) on the' courage he displayed in pursuing and capturing M'Lean. Remarkable correspondence was found on M'Lean to his •• pal "in Sydney.

: Ohbistchxtbch, July 14. • Daring church time' yesterday evening Mrs Prinkwell's grocer's shop and dwelling', house, Madras street, was entered through the window while the occupants were absent. The key of the safe was taken out of a drawer in the bedroom, the safe opened, and £52 in notes, gold, and silver stolen. The thief went out by the back door, which was left open.

July 15. ; Barglaries appear freaaent here now. Last Friday night the offices of J. T. Brown, timber merchant, were broken into, and an unsuccessful attempt made to open the safe. Last night Lewsey, Light, and 00/s grocery shop was entered through the window, and a small sum in change taken from the till.

An important case under the Education Act was beard in the Kaiapoi Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday last. R. Williams, although living near the Main School, preferred sending his children to the Flaxton side school, and the committee of the latter refused them admittance, so he sued the chairman for £50 damages and ' for the assertion of his rights. Mr Whitefoord, ' R.M., gave judgment for the plaintiff for nominal damages and costs, holding that plaintiff had a right to send his children to " a public, 80U00I."