THE BURGLAR SCARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 34

THE BURGLAR SCARE.

A DETERMINED BURGLARY.

On Friday night or Saturday morning a most determined burglary was committed at the premises of Mr Charles Johnson, draper, of Maclaggan street. The thieves on the previous Wednesday night had attempted to get into bhe premises, but were unsuccessful. On that occasion they entered a yard at the back of the Bhop, getting over a brick wall, the top of which was oovered with broken glass. They then opened a window and got into a room at the back of the building. Proceeding through this room they passed through another room into a cellar underneath the shop. They then endeavoured to open a trap door in the cellar which communicated with the shop. They were, however, unable to accomplish their object, but traces were lefb of their visib to the place and Mr Johnson took precautions with the view of preventing them from gaining an entrance to the shop in the event of their returning. He not only plaoed a strong iron bar over the trap door of bhe cellar, but also a similar bar at the back of the door leading into the cellar. This was done on Friday afternoon, and the police were made acquainted with the faot thab an attempt had been made to get into the place. On Saturday morning, however, ib was discovered bhab the place had been broken into, and the thieves had succeeded in doing what they before were unable to accomplish. They bad evidently come prepared with tools for their work, which they set about in a most deliberate manner.

After entering the yard in the same manner as on the previous occasion— that is, by climbing over a brick wall covered with broken glass — they got into the back portion of the building, and made their way to the door of the cellar which had been barred. „ They then cut a hole through bhe door and also made an aperture through the brick wall at bhe side of bhe door. By this means they were enabled to get at tba bar, which they succeeded in removing. They afterwards made a hole in the trap door of the cellar and removed the bac above thab also. Then going into the Bhop they got the safe, which they conveyed to the cellar, and endeavoured to open ib. This bask, however, apparently proved too much for bhem with bhe implements they had with them, as bhe safe would nob yield to their persuasion. Bub before leaving the premises they appropriated about 26s worth of silver, which had been left in the till, and also a quantity of clothing of the value of between £11 and £12. So far the police have not ascertained any clue to the perpetrators of the robbery.

At the District Court, Westport, application fora new trial was made by defendant in the case of Ferguson v. Wright. In April last plaintiff, a master tailor, recovered £250 damages frocn defendant, a medical man, for negligently and unskilfully setting plaintiff's arm. Judge Ward said the application would be refused with reluctance. The jury were part of the court and were judges of fact. Personally, his Honor believed defendant had treated plaintiff Skilfully. A sample of an advertising mould, which Mr George Ward, of the Princess Theatre, has commenced to manufacture in Dunedin, has been submitted to us. The mould i 3 made of papier mache and is unbreakable, and any emblem of trade can be' used in conneotion with it. The idea bas been registered by Mr Ward, who is assisted by his brother in this latest form of local industry, and it is a form of advertising which, from its effective boldness as well as from its novelty, will probably " catch on " with tee trading public.