CHINAMAN’S STRANGE CONDUCT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17349, 14 May 1924, Page 7

CHINAMAN’S STRANGE CONDUCT.

IN GIRL’S BEDROOM. A SCARE AT OPUNAKE. (Special to the “Star.”) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 14. The strange behaviour of a Chinaman at Opunake on the morning of April 21 lias resulted in Lum \V ing being committed for trial at this week's sessions of the Supreme Court at New Plymouth on of breaking and entering a dwelling belonging to Mr Plow Thompson, of Opunake, on April 21 with intent to commit a crime. From th© story told, it appears that three young girls who were guests of Mr Thompson for the Easter holidays were quartered in a two-roomed cotage on his property. They retired late to bed on the night of April 20 (Easter Sunday), two of them sleeping in the bedroom and the other one in the kitchen. As there was no lock on the outer door they placed a chair against it to secure it from being opened. The precaution was a wise one, but it was apparently ineffectual, as at about 6.45 on the Monday morning the girls were awakened by a sound as of the chair being scraped along the floor. The one in the kitchen saw the door opened and a Chinaman came into the room. She tried to induce him to go out. but be mumbled something in Chinese and came right inside. The girl then ran iuto the other room, and putting on a wrap, went to call Mr Thompson. Undismayed, the Celestial proceeded into The room where the two girls were in bed, and, in spite of screams by them, and the fact that they told the unwelcome visitor that the third member of their pary had gone for Mr Thompson, bo quietly sat down on the side of the bed, but was promptlypushed off.

The next move of the intruder was to try to pull the bed clothes off the girls, but they were too much for him in that. All the time he was muttering to himself in a manner that was unintelligible to the girls, but they distinguished something about “not sleeping all night.” The Chinaman was said to have displayed at the same time a on© pound note, and one of the girls said he had also in his hand something which looked like a pill or tabloid. He remained perhaps five minutes in the place and then leisurely and quietly departed, and he had disappeared when Mr Thompson arrived on the scene. All the girls identified the accused as the man they- had seen at a wire fenc© separating the properties on the previous afternoon, when a conversation had taken place about some fowls which appeared to have strayed on to Mr Thompson’s property. During the conversation th© Chinaman is alleged to have inquired of the girls how many thc:c were of them in the c« ttage. One of them stated she had urged the others to break off the conversation with the Chinaman, and from the allegations made it would seem that the quality of feminine intuition which then asserted itself would have been a wise guide to follow.