SEQUEL TO BURGLARY.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1399, 4 September 1923, Page 5

SEQUEL TO BURGLARY.

YOUNG MAORI ARRESTED. TRACED BY A HAT. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) HAMILTON, Monday.. For some months past a Te Kuiti storekeeper named Nicholls has been missing articles and money from his shop, and has been unable to account for their strange disappearance. The matter was reported to the police, who kept strict watch on the premises without result, and a few night’s ago it was decided to station Constable Marks on the premises. The constable was in his stockinged feet at about 4 o’clock on Saturday morning, when he heard a key quietly fitted into the front door, and the door opened to admit a burly young Maori, who went to the safe, where he was fitting a key,, when the constable pounced on him from behind. A struggle ensued, during which the native collapsed, apparently unconscious. The constable then went to a telephone a few yards away to ring up Sergeant Fearnley. Hearing a slight noise he was surprised to see the native dive headlong through a window. The constable gave chase, but, being handicapped by lack of boots, was soon outdistanced by his dusky quarry. On returning to the store the constable found that the burglar had left his hat behind, in the lining of which a name was pencilled. This was a clue not difficult to follow, and later in the day the police set off for a bush settlement. The Maori, however, sensing some such happening, had been keeping strict watch on the tracks, and when he saw the police approaching, promptly made for the bush. After making a few inquiries, and pretending to believe all they were told, the police turned their car about and disappeared down the track. When out of sight of possible onlookers two of the constables alighted and concealed themselves in the hush, where they waited patiently for the Maori’s return. Towards night, as anticipated, out came the alleged escapee, Tuari Tuku, and the constables, making their way quietly to a whare, had him in their custody before he was aware of what luad happened. The bronzed disciple of Bill Sykes will duly appear before the Court.