SYDNEY STONE-THROWING MYSTERY SOLVED.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 10018, 1 June 1894, Page 2

SYDNEY STONE-THROWING MYSTERY SOLVED.

A GIRL CAUGHT IN THE ACT. Tin: sfcone-throwing mystery at Emnore (says the Sydney Herald) has been solved. The perpetrator, it is alleged, is a little girl about 12 years of age, named Eva Grieves, who was an adopted child of Mr McCann. Prior to adoption by McCann, the girl was in the charge of the State Children's Relief Department. Since she has lived with the family she has been treated as one of themselves. She was always well clothed and cared for, and is a sharp, intelligent child. Should it be eventually ascertained that she was alone responsible for the outrage, it will be difficult to understand her motive. The method she adopted to throw the stones was to creep from tho house into the yard, and from under the large castor oil tree, which was growing iv the centre of the yard, she would hurl the stones. The tree, it may be stated, has been cut down within the last few days, to allow the police a better opportunity for obtaining a clue. The police express astonishment that a girl of Grieves' age could cause such large stones to reach the window. Notwithstanding i the precautions, several stones have been j thrown during the present week. The windows' havo beou repaired, but Mr j McCann, for protection, kept the sheet i of iron fastened on the outside of the frame. The police having then* suspicions aroused, marked several stones and placed them in different parts' of the yard of Mr McCanu's house, and also placed- marked stones in Mr Hurcome s yard, which 'is next door. On Thursday evening Mrs Hurcome, by aid of the light of tbe moon, saw the girl throw a stone from the yard of her master's house towards one of the illfiited windows. The stone struck the protecting iron. The girl picked up the missile, conveyed it to her mistross, and informed her that another stone had been thrown. Mrs Hurcome in the meantime informed the police of what had occurred. Senior-constable Meares secreted himself in the bathroom of Mrs Hurcome's house, and from, the window watched for events. About 7 o'clock, the usual hour of throwing, the girl and a sister of Mrs McCann were in the washhouse, and while the latter waa engaged washing, a stonowas thrown on the roof of the house, the girl Grieves at tho time making a remark, " You had better go'inside for fear of a stone." Constable Meares, who saw tho girl throw the stone, immediately came downstairs and knocked at the front door of Mr McCann's 'premises. The knock was answered by the girl herself, and when charged with the oifence she at first denied it, but afterwards confessed all, giving as a reason that she was instructed to do so in a dream. As Mrs McCann refused to keep tho girl in her 'house anylouger, Grieves •waß taken by Constable Meares to the Central police station, and afterwards sent back to the Industrial School. What is regarded as the strangest part of the affair is the absolute precisiou of the aim in wielding tho stones, some of which weighed 41bs, and even 51ba. It is evident that the thrower must have been within twenty yards of tho house, and the manner in which the person escaped detection in the face of tho vigilance of the police seems strauge.