ROBBERY AT HIGHGATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16906, 4 December 1922, Page 6

ROBBERY AT HIGHGATE.

COLONIAL THIEVES SENTENCED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received December 4. 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, December 3. Reginald Birt was sentenced at the Old Bailey to seven years’ imprisonment for robbery of jewellery valued at £9OOO from Lady Crosfield’s house at Highgate. He is a well educated Australian, having been born in Melbourne. 'William John Clark, who was sentenced to eighteen months* imprison merit in connection with the same robbery, is a New Zealander. Mrs Birt, Mrs Clark and Arthur Sherwood were similarly charged, but were acquitted. The robbery was effected in daylight bv climbing hr- means of a rope to an iron balustrade outside Lady Crosfield’s bedroom. A few minutes after they drove away in a motor-car. There were many servants in the house at the time. Most of the stolen jewellery was recovered. The police regard Birt as one of thj most reckless and audacious burglars in tho world. He served several minor sentences in Australia, and went to South Africa, where he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment for an hotel roblfery. Under the name of John Bridge, he came to England and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for house-breakin<r at Leicester, and then to three years. He was released last August . Detectives casually saw Birt. Clark and two others in a. street at Highgate for a few hours before the Crosfield robbery, and immediately connected him with it when it was reported. Clarke had been associating with thieves since deserting from the New Zealand Forces. The police declare that Clark spotted for Birt. and shadowed Sir Arthur Crosfield for si»: weeks before the burglary.