BURGLARY IN THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1005, 21 December 1910, Page 4

BURGLARY IN THE CITY

AN ARREST EFFECTED. SEQUEL TO. A WEEK'S CHASE. ; A smart arrest was effected by Detav tives Hammond and Cameron last night, the captive being a man named Bernard: Alfred Gifford, for whom the police had been anxiously searching the city during the whole of the past week. Yesterday week a warrant was issued for the arrest of Gilford, 011 several charges of theft of tools. From information received, Detectives Kemp and Hammond proceeded to a house in Newtown, where they had reason to believe that an arrest might be effected, but the man was not to be taken by surprise. Ho was engaged painting the building, but, while the officers were still some distance off, they wers chagrined to see a fleeting vision of Gifford, flitting swiftly from the scene. During the remainder of the week, tha detectives continued their search, but no trace of tho man could be found until Sunday last; when he. was again seen : in a house in Newtown, but he mado a dash for liberty, and led his pursuers a merry dance for some time. On several occasions subsequently Detectives Kemp and Hammond were within an ace of capturing; him, but he succeeded- in eluding 'themuntil dark, when the chase was abandoned. '

Yesterday Detective Kemj went 011 leave, and Detective Cameron took K9 place in the search for Gifford. Nothing had been seen of Gifford on Monday, but the police decidcd to hamper him by removing his effects from the house where he had been residing in Newtown. Oa the same day word was received that tho house of Mr. James Dickson Siev« wright, on Wellington Terrace, had been; entered while tho occupants were absent; and jewellery to the value of , JE29 had been stolen, but whether Gifford.had anything to do with this or not will be a< matter for tha Court to decide. Yesteri day the trail was again discovered, an<L( just a little before 8 p.m., Detectives Hammond and Cameron came upon Gifford in Customhouse Quay, and approached him quietly from, behind. Determined that there should' be no e'scapa this time, Detective Hammond grasped the man round the waist and pinioned his arms to his side, and, a few minutes* 1 : later, matters were being reviewed in tha police' station. '• -

The Detective Office last night mightl easily have been mistaken for- a branch> of the Public Works' Department, as the tables were covered'with tools, as if carpentering was carriedon there on a huge scale. This morning Gifford will be charged with theft of a-ladder, valua 305., the property of Smith and Smithy Several other'charges will follow, include -ing the-alleged-.burglary in Wellington! Terrace.