THE CRIMINAL GARRETT.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 409, 21 November 1868, Page 4

THE CRIMINAL GARRETT.

We mentioned yesterday that Gar rett, well known to the recorders of crime in Victoria and Otago, was again in the hands of the police. About eight or nine months ago, on his discharge from Dunedin gaol, after undergoing a sentence of eight years' penal servitude, for robbery under arms, the action taken by the Commissioner of Police, in endeavouring to remove such a social pest from the province, was much commented upon. Garrett was elevated into a hero ; much sympathy was expressed for him; the Commissioner of Police and the police were charged with cruelty, wilh hunting a man willing to be honest to death, and with preventing him from redeeming his character. C-arrett came back to Dunedin from Melbourne, frequented a place of worship, and managed to ingratiate himself into the good graces of a number of the members of that congregation. Aid was given him in every possible way; work was secured for him in his trade of cooper, and as he was a good tradesman, he has been in constant employment, and has earned good wages. But the Police did not believe in the sincerity of his protestations, and accordingly kept him under close surveillance, and at length proof was given that he had been playing a hypocritical game. Mr Allan, the seed man of Princes street, was passing his own premises, with a friend, about four o'clock in the afternoon, and had occasion to go into the shop by the back way. To his surprise he found the door unlocked, and found G-arrett in the shop. The latter attempted to escape, but was secured and kept until the aid of Constable Nagle—who was passing at the time—was obtained. Mr Allan had taken the precaution to conceal his cash-box, and the property stolen by the prisoner was of trifling value. When his house was searched, a revolver and ammunition, and a most formidable knife were found. That the opinion formed by the police as to Garrett's reform was correct, is clearly proved by the fact that he is caught red-handed committing a robbery, having no possible motive for being dishonest. Prequenting, as he did, Mr Brunton's Church, he had ample opportunity of observing] how accessible Mr Allan's premises were ; and he w r as evidently well prepared, for on his person no less than seventeen skeleton keys were found. On hia being brought to the

Court, a great crowd assembled. After sufficieut evidence to establish a prima facie case, he was remanded.