MONKEYS MAKE RAID ON SHOPS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18055, 15 January 1927, Page 5

MONKEYS MAKE RAID ON SHOPS

THIRTEEN COMPRISED “ ORCHESTRA ” FOR FAIR* (Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, November 23. Thirteen monkeys, which were released from .premises at Notting Hill, London, W , by, it is believed, a burglar, have been making raids on shops in the. district. Last night nine of them had been captured, but four were still at large, three having taken refuge beneath a Metropolitan railway station platform. The monkeys were in a big hutch on the premises of Mr Thomas Murphy, of Latimer Road, an amusement caterer. The would-be thief, apparently expecting to find a fowl, opened the hutch and released the animals, which form a simian orchestra destined for the coming World’s Fair at the Agricultural Hall. Seven of the monkeys were soon driven back by hunger, but the others established themselves in the hollow space between the matchboarding of Latimer Road Station and the planks of the platform. This gives access to a yard, whence foraging parties can raid neighbouring shops. Bull’s-Eye Robbers. Mr Clare, a corn chandler, discovered five of the invaders behind a pile of sacks full of oats, feeding on puppy biscuits. Ilis employees and a policeman captured one offender after three and a half hours. The others escaped through a skylight. A confectioner's shop was the scene of another loss to the monkey forces. Lured by chocolates and bulls’-eyes, one adventurer started to enjoy himself at the confectioner’s expense. lie encountered Mr J. Boddington, an army man with experience of monkeys in the Straits Settlements, who made a speedy capture. Later in the evening, Money Isaac was caught, with the aid of his father Jerry. When Isaac was seen, Jerry was sent after him on a long rope. On reaching him, Jerry picked him up, and was carefully hauled back, but he carried his runaway son all the way home. Franko,” the conductor of the monkeys’ orchestra, has vanished. It. is reported that he took the train to Paddington, but efforts to locate him between Latimer Road and Baker Street have been futile. It is believed bv officials of the Metropolitan Railway that he changed ” and is somewhere on the Addison Road line. He is the most valuable of the band, and a reward of £25 is offered for his capture by Mr Wilson, the manager of the World’s Fair.