PLANNED BURGLARY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12484, 10 March 1909, Page 4

PLANNED BURGLARY.

. A remarkable story of a young adventuress was related to the'Croydon Magistrates the; other day. The girl, Ethel Vera Rothery, aged fifteen, belonging to Mitcbain, was charged with stealing a silver epergno, salad-bowl, tea-caddy, and -other articles, vahied at £10. They belonged to her stepfather, the, silver articles having been wedding presents. . While her mother was oiit the girl packed the things in a portmanteau." obtained cash by forcing the slot gasmeter with a tin-opener, and created confusion in various rooms to give the impression that the place had been visited by housebreakers. This ir. fact was thought to be the case untiJ ; a Nunhead pawnbroker gave information to the police. •-.■'•• On leaving the house she went to Nunhead, and there bought writing ' paper and envelopes. She then drafted a' note to the pawnbroker in her mother's name, purporting- to be a request from her to advance 25s on the portmanteau and plate. Knowing the mother, and being told in the letter that she could not come her--1 self, the pawnbroker made the adyance. Then.the girl went to Peckhan) Rye and Brixton, buying severa] things that "took her fancy, and got home the same evening, finding the police there investigating the supposed case of housebroaking. She was sent to a reformatory for three years. .