A CASE OF HYDE AND JEKYLL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7607, 17 January 1903, Page 4

A CASE OF HYDE AND JEKYLL.

BUSINESS MAN BY DAY; BURGLAR BY NIGHT. A remarkable story of a double life has just been revealed in Philadelphia by the arrest of George Dickinson, a notorious burglar. Dickenson belongs to a good family, and is educated, but his ungovernable criminal instincts made him a burglar and caused him to serve several terms in prison. Two years ago Dickenson settled in Philadelphia, kept his criminal career a profound secret, and eventually became a member of a prosperous firm of shirt manufacturers. During the day he was a respectable business man, and at night he plied his vocation of burglar. He is a skilful mechanic, made his own " professional " implements, and ih-ad ai jeweller's furnace "amd crucibles at honifi in which he melted down the gold and silver he stole. He always committed his burglaries at midnight, wore evening dress, and conducted his opei-ations in the mosb stylish and gentlemanly manner. He occupied fashionable apartments, and was very regular in his habits, so that none of his friends ever suspected him. During" the past few months over a hundred mysterious burglaries have occurred in Philadelphia, for many of which Dickinson is believed to be- responsible. ,He was captured while attempting to ! force an entrance into a house. When arrested he made a desperate resistance, took away a policeman's revolver, and shot him in the leg, but was overpowered after a terrific straggle. When the police searched his apartments they found large quantities of mutilated silver ware, jewellery, and costly bric-a-brac, the proceeds of his recent burglaries.