DARING BURGLARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13607, 29 May 1908, Page 5

DARING BURGLARY.

OTIRA STATION ENTERED. SAFE BLOWN OPEN. Per Press Association. GREYMOUTH, May 28. A daring burglary wa? committed at Otira on Wednesday night, when the railway station was entered by the window and the safe, which contained £Bl in notes, gold and silver, and £3O in cheques, was blown open by dynamite, and the money stolen. It appears "that entrance to the building was gained by breaking the catch of the window facing the platform. The thieves had evidently well planned the affair, and it iii Surmised that.'the keyhole of the safe, which is a Milner, was plugged with gelignite and a detonator with fuse attached. The keyhole was then covered with moss, and the whole smothered with damp clay, and then the mail bags which were lying in the office were piled in front of the door and fastened down in a fashion with an iron bar or brake handle. The rase was evidently then lit, with the result that the safe "was very little damaged with the exception of the lock, which was smashed to atoms and the front cap blown off. This accomplished, ,the burglar had only to turn the handle and the spoil was his. As soon as the news was received in Greymouth a special train was despatched conveving Detective Campbell, a constable", and Mr Ashley, traffic manager. On the May up several swaggers were met with." being mostly Australians. The train was stopped on each occasion, but in every case a satisfactory exnlanation was given and the men were allowed to proceed. On arrival, at Otira the police took every precaution to secure all available evidence. On one pane of glass finger-prints were discernible- which may materially assist in bringing the culprit to justice. ■ •