CRIME IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 3040, 19 June 1912, Page 3

CRIME IN AUCKLAND.

MAN FOUND UNDER A BED. AULJvijAi.ilJ, June i.l

A rather sensational aire&t was made at the Market Hotel in Queen street about 9 o'clock this inorning. ■ . The licensee (Mr Loughnan) went to his roam at that hour, and as ho entered he thought he heard a slight noise coming from beneath the bed. He at once proceeded to investigate, and was surprised to find a man crouching underneatii the bed. Mr Loughnan is a man of some physical strength, and he lost no time in hauiing tlie atranger out into the middle of tho room. An inquiry as to the reason for his presence led to the answer that the intruder was " looking for a man." " Lid you expect to nnd him under the bed':"' was Mr Loughnans retort, and this ho followed up with an intimation that he was going to search his prisoner. This the man resented, and with a sip ling he managed to get clear of the licensee's grip and rushed into the passage. Mr Loughnan was not to be so easily evaded, however, and he caught his man, a sharp struggle ensuing. The manipulation of what uj know to athletes as the " half-nelson "- wa« successfully applied, and Mr Loughnan promptly sat on his victim, while those who were aroused by the sounde of the struggle and had come to his assistance rang up for the police. On tho arrival of a constable the man was taken in charge and searched. From his pockets wa a abstracted a quantity of jewellery and some money. He was then handcuffed and removed to the police station. ' , ~ At the Police Court this afternoon the man, whose name was given as Robert Lon", was brought up on a charge of theft from a dwelling of jewellery valued at £ls, the property of Mrs Loughnan, and further with the theft of £3 10s in money. The accused was remanded. Some time between Friday and Monday the Ponsonby Public School was entered by one of the windows and turned topsy-turvey. Several of the lockers were turned out, and much of the teaching outfit was displaced. It is understood that the polioe attribute the occurrence to very young vandals. Nothing of any value was taken from the school. There has been a recurrence of the form of theft known as " harbour piracy.'' On Sunday night week a raid was made upon four launches which wkm-o moored off St. Mary's beach, Ponsonby, and the cabin door e were burst open and quantities of valuable contents Etolen.