A CONTENTED PRISONER

Southland Times, Issue 20172, 7 May 1927, Page 7

A CONTENTED PRISONER

RUDE AWAKENING. BURGLAR IN BOND. (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, May 6. A sensational discovery made at Neill’s bond this morning resulted in the arrest of a man named Arthur George Rennie, whom the jxflice have wanted for some time on many charges of stealing from seaside cribs. A youth who was sent to the top flat of the bond saw smoke issuing from the rafters and discovered a form crouched there. The I»olice were sent for and the man emerged in a disreputable slate with bags round his legs and a month’s growth of beard, one side of which was singed. About a month ago, a skylight was found broken in the bond, and the police found a coat and a pair of boots on the roof, but no sign of the man. It appears that Rennie had procured a ladder, climbed up the rafters and hidden himself, dragging the ladder up after him, so that nobody had an inkling anyone could get there. When the skylight was mended Rennie found himself a prisoner in the bond. He lay hidden all day, emerging at night and rifling the bond of champagne, bread, sardines, cheese, cigars and cigarettes, the debris of which was found in his lair. Apparently while in a dopy condition he had allowed a match to start a fire and had got his face singed. Rennie presented an astonishing figure as he was taken to the Police Station.