SURPRISE VISITS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11501, 6 February 1903, Page 7

SURPRISE VISITS.

AILLEGED HOUSEBREAKING BY A

WOMAN. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Reoeived February 6th, 1.12 a.m.) MELBOURNE, February 5.' A fashionably-dressed woman named Kate Porter waa committed for trial to-day on a charge of housebreaking, and a second 1 charge of stealing from a dwelling. The arrest was the outcome of numerous robberies in title suburbs. In several instances, it is alleged, when discovered on the premises, surrounded by the contents of opened drawers, she hastily collected the valuables and innocently explained that site was under the impression she was in the house of a friend, upon whom she was playing a practical joke by pretending to be a burglar. Bhe showed great distress, and apologised profusely on being informed she had made a mistake in supposing it waa a friend's house, whereupon she was allowed to depart.

On January 23rd, at tlie lunt-heon liour, a woman who has since been identified as Kate Porter, paid, a visit to Mrs Henry Bennett, of 602 Punt road, South Yarra. She pushed open the front door, which was standing ajar, and walked into the front Ibedruom. Mto Bennett, walking through from the back of the house, entered the bedroom, and found a 'luxiwl-somely-dressed woman standing behind the door. She sprang out playfully when discovery was inevitable, and cried, with wellfuigned glee, "Ob, Mxb Bennett, I have frightened you. I wtuited to (jive Mrs Henderson a fright." Mra Bennett did not take the joke in, the proper spirit, and asked her wttio she was. She replied, "I am a clergyman'fl daughter. I made a mistake calling here." She entreated her to let her go, and Mra Bennetit, who had not missed anything. aJknwed her to walk away, but afteitwiurdis repoittedi the matter to the police.

I The circumstances (says "The Argun") recaill the caae of a, woman who was found in the house of dirts Elizabeth Thompson, of Mercer road, iMalyem, oa June Bth Hast. Shortly after mid-day Mrs Thompson went into her bedfrooan, and found the woman engaged in examining the contents c-f her wtJrdnjlbe. Hue turned, end with a 'winning smile offered Iver hand- to Mrs Thompson, (remarking that she had called to see Mrs Ireland. Seeing her look of bewilderment, she added quickly, "You know, the kdy w>ho ha» a" baby." Mrs Thompson threatened to go for the police, but the visitor maintained that she was thoroughly respectable, and offered to leave

pait of her jowelksry wiith her os a pledge of hex Tuoneeity, promising to call aigain next day. She* left a valuable godd watch and ibwo brooches, which, needless to jay. •were never called for. After trie had gone ifrs Thompson found that she hod entered tlie house by climbing through the bedroom window. In the agitation of the thought of toeing aiTesttedi she dropped on the floor a purse, ■whdah was identified by lira Puckile, of Waftkttree road, as having been eta!en from her bedroom on the same day. She !kwl left Ji€ir wi(nd<«r unfastened, and the thief bad entered by it. The puree contained some valuable jewellery, 'wifch bad not been disturbed.