CAPTURE OF A SUPPOSED BURGLAR.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4893, 21 September 1901, Page 4

CAPTURE OF A SUPPOSED BURGLAR.

Last night (says Thursday's ' Daily Times ') one of the most bitterly disappointed men in Dunedin was safely reposing in gaol, and if the suspicions of the police regarding this individual are borne out by subsequent create the general public will assuredly be bappy in the recognition that they are freed from the menace of a most unwelcome member of society. Consequent on the numerous burglaries and robberies during the last few weeks residents of the city have had an anxious time, never knowing at whose place the light-fingered gentlemen would decide on making a call during the absence of the rightful owner. When the individual who was yesterday arrested left his temporary home .in St. Andrew-street yesterday morning at about half-past seven he was, no doubt, congratulating himself that that very night he would be able, by the rather .simple process of a little smelting, to put all fear of detection as a robber out of sight ; but George Lee, for so he styles himself, reckoned without hie host. Ooaatdtile JNeJeon, who wa« early on the watch, followed him for a ' while, arrested him, and took him off to tbe police station. The prisoner is a most unlikely.looking burglar. He is about 52 or 53 years of age, wears a grey moustache, and, quietly dreßsed, looks an irreproachable citizen. But hisportmantean told an al 1 together different tale. Lee wae evidently a man of literary tastes, for a number of books were found amongst his effects, and, curiously enough, they were all detective stories of the real ' Deadwood Dick ' type, with Buch titles as * Secrets of the Police," The Mystery of Whitish dock/ « A terrible Secret ' etc., etc. A search of the pcisoner brought to light two large skeleton keys and five 9tnall ones, and his portmanteau contained a chisel, a nnmbes of filed keys of all sizes, 'and patterns and other burglarious implements.. A quantity of jewellery, broken up all ready for smeltipg,, was also found, and, most cqn'oqs of al), a bottle of aq.ua fortis for, testing the quality of the gold. 3?rom a. railway label on the portmanteau, it is assumed that the man a wired here on 2Qkh ult. from Wei | ljngton.. On tbe following day he pawned, in the name of Thomas Wilson three rings, supposed to be part of the proceeds of robberies in Chris tch arch and Wellington. However, he was not suspected until it was ' ascertained that he answered to the description of the man seen coming out of Mr Bay ley's house in Howe street last Sanday. Chief-detective Campbell and Detective Cooney promptly got upoir his track, the result being tbe clerer capture already alluded to. Nothing is known of the man's antecedents. He declares himself to be a complete stranger, and expresses the utmost surprise at his arrest. About £20 in notes and gold was found upon him, and* he was

wearing an 18-carat gold ring set with a ruby. Lee was brought before the Police Court on Thursday morning on three seperate charges — with stealing from Mrs Qalloway's house in "Walker Street a gold medal, a gold cairngorm broocb, and a scarf pin ; with the robbery from tbe poust* of Mr Charles Bayley in Howe street a £1 note, a half-sovereign, a gold pearl brooch, and other moneys ; and from the residence of Mr Adam Clark at corner of Union and Castle streets of six £1 notes, a gold scarf pin net with a diamond, a gold bangle, a lady's band ring set with an opal, >a gold broocb, two gold chains, and other jewellery. He was remanded for a week.

There is every reason to believe that this man is connected with the several recent robberies in the city and suburbs, and Inspector Fardy and Sub-inspector Kiely are naturally de* lighted at the thought that such a dangerous fellow is safe in durance vile.