PLUCKY CONDUCT OF A WOMAN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8757, 19 April 1890, Page 3

PLUCKY CONDUCT OF A WOMAN.

Shoiitja' after eleven o'clock on Wednesday night a man named George Smith was arrested inf' Wellington on the charge of breaking into and entering the dwelling house of Alvina Knigge, and feloniously taking therefrom one fur clpak, one dress, and one silk body, valued at £4 10s, tho property of the said Alvina Knigge. He wns charged with the offence before the R.M., the only witness called being Alvina Kniggo. She stated that she lived with her husband in the Brunswick Restaurant, Willis-street. Pier bedroom was on tho ground floor. For safety she had had the lower portion of her bedroom window — which opened on the back yard — nailed up. There was no door opening from her bedroom on to tho yurd, but there was a door from the back yard opening into v pussago, a few yards up another door opened on her bedroom. She left her bedroom and locked the door about 10.30 o'clock last evening, when the articles mentioned above as being stolen were hangingonthe wall. On returning in about three-quarters of an hour's time she heard somebody moving inside the room. Knowing she had left tho door locked she rushed through tho door before mentioned into the yard to tho window of her bcdrwin, fchu did tli'.s, $by stated, knowing iljo jjm'U inside Jjor mm wvY\ n# p\ m\ tJw fifosr »vsy ; as

there were several men in the sitting room ' through which he would have to pass. She had no sooner arrived beneath the window than a bundle was thrown out, which she afterwards found to be the articles enumerated above. A man — the accused — then climbed up on the window sill and jumped out of the bedroom. She made a rush and caught hold of him, but he was too powerful for her, and shoved her on one side. She at once started in pursuit, and chased him along Victoriastreet, through Chew's Lane into Willisstreet, where she met two men, who on hearing her story joined in the chase. They followed accuser! up Willis-street a short distance, when Constable Creeks, who was in front of the accused, seeiug the position of affairs, made preparations to receive the enemy, i.e., the accused. Smith, however, decided to face two civilians and a woman in preference to a constable, and doubling ran into the arms of Ins pursuer*, one of whom he struck a heavy blow on the face. He was in a fair way of escaping when the constable, who had followed him up, arrived, and after a short struggle luind-cuffed him. Mrs Knigge stated that all tho time the chase had lasted she did not lose sight of the accused.

In connection with the above Mrs Knigge t.t;tteg that while the accused was in the room reaching down the clothes he was almost standing on a small wooden box, containing some £40 in gold and notes, besides a large number of cheques. He could easily have "lifted" this, and got eff without any trouble, and with far more advantage to himself.