GAVE MR STRINGER NAME OF BURGLAR.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 31 March 1931, Page 6

GAVE MR STRINGER NAME OF BURGLAR.

DETECTIVE FINDLAY’S “ SHOT IN THE DARK.” The arrest, carried out by Detective J. J. Findlay, on the day following the burglary at Mr J. H. Stringer’s house, had all the elements of a thrilling crime Story. Crook, who to-day pleaded guilty to the charge in the Magistrate’s Court, was “ known ” to the police, and when Detective Findlay, walking home on Wednesday, passed him coming from the direction of the hills, he noted the fact for future reference. That night when the detective was in the office at the Central Statiqn, a message came through that a house in Cashmere Road had been burgled and nearly £3O in jewellery and money stolen. Detective Findlay was given the assignment and went immediately to the scene of the crime. More as a joke than anything else he handed to Mr Stringer a sealed envelope in which he had written the name of the man whom he thought had committed the As a result of the investigations which Detective Findlay made overnight, he and Detective M’Clung arrested a man at noon the next day and secured a confession from him. Mr Stringer then opened the envelope and found the name “ Crook ” written inside. The detective's guess had proved correct. Find in Tree. More was to follow. Not only did the man confess, but, as Detective Findlay stated to-day in evidence. Crook took him to a tree in Oxford Terrace, where, hidden in a hole, was a box containing the stolen property, as well as other articles. The tree, not one hundred yards from the Plunket Society’s rooms, and on the opposite side of the river to the new Edmonds band rotunda, was inspected this morning and from its location and accessibility it is considered likely that it has been for a long time a temporary storing place for stolen property—perhaps tke depot of a “fence.” It is an ordinary elm in appearance except that at the foot of the trttnk the wood had started to decay, and round the hole thus formed a piece of old iron had been nailed. The hollow behind constituted the hiding place. Detectives Findlay and M’Clung, who usually work together, are considered very promising police officers and have already many successes to their credit. Detective Findlay was one of those who shared in the “fire-bug” reward.