WOMAN AND BURGLAR

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 5

WOMAN AND BURGLAR

SENSATION IN AUCKLAND. A daring attempt at burglary, in which a young woman was subjected to a somewhat terrifying experience, occurred at Sherwood road, Mount Eden, Auckland, and has been reported to the police (states the Herald). The victim of the occurrence was Miss Bradney, daughter of Mr J. H. Bradncy. At 12.50 the other morning she was awakened by noises in her room, which is a front one, and a burning sensatioh on her mouth, caused by a piece of camphorsoaked lint. The room was in pitch darkness, but she discerned a figure of a man bending over a chest of drawers close to her bed. Thinking it might be her father, who was the only other occupant of the house at the time, she called out: “ Who is there?” , The man turned and cried: “ Not a word, or I’ll choke you.” Miss Bradney did not waste a moment, but, jumped out of bed and called to her father: “There’s a man in the room.” Evidently taken aback by this act, the intruder beat a hasty retreat, jumping through the open window, through which he had conie, and escaping into the road before Mr Bradney could' reach the scene. The night was a particularly dark one, and it was impossible to follow anyone dow n the road. A street lamp is situated opposite the house, and, when alight brilliantly illuminates the front room through the bay windows. The light is extinguished regularly at midnight, so the intruder could safely count on complete darkness. favouring his operations. Miss Bradnev was naturally affected injuriously by the shock of her experience, and it was some time before she completely recovered. Investigations showed that the burglar had carried a wooden benzine box from within the garden hedge to a position beneath the window' and had thus climbed into the room. The first thing he had done on reaching the floor was to place the square of lint over the sleeper’s face. It had been soaked in chemicals, which had been diagnosed as camphor, and produced a sickening sensation, as well as a stinging feeling where it touched the lips. The odour hod a blinding effect on the sleeper when she awoke and produced a temporary helpless condition. That the attempted burglary was no haphazard exploit is suggested by the fact that the house was the scene of a successful burglary 12 months ago. On this occasion also the intruders showed surprising daring and deliberate purpose. Entering by the front door early in the evening while the family, were engaged in a game of cards with a number of visitors in a back room, the burglars rifled the drawers in several rooms and escaped with about £4O worth of jewellery and £7O worth of clothes. The latter included a number of suits; a frock coat. A and evening dress wear, and other articles of attire, besides an umbrella belonging to one of the visitors.