WELLINGTON.

Timaru Herald, Volume IV, Issue 96, 16 March 1866, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

[From the Independent, March 3.] RECOVERY OF THE VALUABLE PROPERTY STOLEN FROM THE COLONIAL MUSEUM. On the 12th February, a short elderly man named James Young 1 , charged with breaking; into the Royal Tiger Hotel, and

stealing goods therefrom, was examined before the Kesident Magistrate and fully committed for trial. We then stated our opinion that the prisoner was concerned m the robberies that had taken place m the Colonial Museum, Thorndon, on the night of Thursday, the Ist February, and more latterly at the stores of Messrs. Jacob Joseph & Co., on the Beach, and that opinion is now discovered to be correct. Young was removed to the gaol to await his trial. While there he was m the habit of talking over his past career with another prisoner named Clavin, who acted as cook. Without absolutely saying m so many words " I broke into the Museum, and concealed my swag m an empty house near Mr. Mantell's residence," he gave Clavin to understand that he had been the robber, and described the locality where he placed the swag. Yesterday forenoon, turnkey Robert Johnson proceeded to the Supreme Court House m charge of the prisoner Clavin, whose duty it was as cook to take down dinner to the prisoners awaiting their trial m the cells at the Station-house. While so employed, the turnkey and his prisoner entered into conversation, and the latter let it leak out that he knew pretty nearly where abouts the property stolen from the Museum was concealed. The turnkey's curiosity was excited, and he, taking his informant with him, proceeded to a house belonging to Mr. Pickering, which is situated within a few hundred yards of Mr. Mantell's residence. Clavin led the way, and assured the turnkey that there the missing articles were hidden. The house was unoccupied, and had been so since the apprehension of Young. The only articles it contained appeared to be a candle stuck m a bottle, and a box of matches. After searching about m every direction, and sounding the walls, they discovered Young's booty cleverly concealed behind the lining. One by one the missing articles were pulled out and recognized. Two chronometers, a small box containing precious stones,a quantity of foreign coins, a large Indian brooch, a mere-mere, three watches, a cross of the Legion of Honour, a Roman ruby brooch, two binoculars, a magnifying glass, a dozen shawls, piles of silks, and the massive gold ring which at one time contained a lock of Napoleon Buonaparte's hair, but this had been taken out. In addition to these were discovered two large silver candlesticks, stolen from the Roman Catholic chapel, a priest's coat and hat, a decanter, supposed to be the one taken from the bar of the Royal Tiger Hotel, two centre bits, and a bundle of skeleton keys. The turnkey at once procured a wheelbarrow, and had the goods taken to the gaol, where they now are. The turnkey and the man Clavin are now entitled to the £100 reward, and the latter will probably receive a free pardon. He is a soldier belonging to the 14th Regiment, and was sentenced to twenty month's imprisonment for an assault and robbery. He has served nineteen months of his time, and has received a good character during the time which he has been m the gaol. The turnkey who has been fortunate enough to recover the stolen property, speaks m high terms of his conduct during the search, and says that he was as active, and gave him as much assistance as if he were a free man. The prisoner James Y r oung, it appears from Clavin's statement, organised and perpetrated the several burglaries that took place m this city at the beginning of the year, himself unaided by any one. If such be indeed the case he has been a most determined and daring character. He came over here from Picton on the 2nd January, and since then has attempted to break into several private houses, m addition to having committed the burglaries at the Museum, the Roj r al Tiger Hotel, and Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Co.'s store.