BURGLARIOUS VISITING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2132, 15 July 1907, Page 3

BURGLARIOUS VISITING.

CHANGING HIS CLOTHES. FOll A ItOUND OE CALLS. A young, medium-sized man, named Andrew Lund, with a number of aliases, appeared at the Police Court, Auckland, last week, to answer various charges of burglariously entering Hotel bedrooms on sundry occasions, and abstracting a number of articles of clothing and jewellery therefrom.

Lindsay Cooke, licensee of the Metropolitan Hotel, said that 011 the evening of Juno 29th he went into his bedroom for some purpose. He went out, and returning a few minutes later, found the door closed, nearing a noise inside, he lost no rime in making investigation, and found accused playing the part of a “drunk” on the tire escape. He had evidently found escape cut off by way of the window. Witness induced him to. go downstairs, and afterwards handed him over to the police. Witness missed nothing from his room, but accused, when searched, had three collars upon him. Henry Harper, a stepson of the first witness, said he saw the accused man climbing out of Mr. Cooke’s window.

A boarder at tbe Metropolitan named Edwin Cooper identified the collars produced as being his property. J. H. Pagni, licensee of the British Hotel, said he was walking along the upstairs passage about 5.30 p.m. on June 20th, and heard accused. remark in answer to one of the maids, “I am looking for Mr Brown.” Witness then followed the man until he got out of the house, and saw no more of him that night. Josephine Stafford, a bar attendant at tho British Hotel, said that unon retiring to her room, about ten o’clock in the evening of the 20tli ult., she discovered several articles of jewellery, value about £6, missing from a drawer. Sho identified a bangle, heart, and other trinkets as being tbe missing ones. Thomas Ferner, a boarder at tho AA’averley Hotol, said he found, upon returning to his room at the end of the day, on Juno 20th, that his portmanteau had been burst open and rifled. AATien confronted at the police station with the accused, lie saw that, the man was clad in his (witness’s) clothes. Sergeant Murphy stated that he searched tlie accused at tho Metropolitan Hotol, and found the collars; Constable Murray,", later, at the watclihouse, recovering from him the articles of jewellery.Thev had apparently been secreted in the leg of his trousers, for they fell out when tlie constable shook them. Tho man was charged with drunkenness, but appeared to he simulating intoxication to a certain extent.

Detective Sliino found the rejected clothes of the accused in room No. 5 of the AA'averley Hotel, where an exchange of apparel had been made by Lund, from tbe boots upwards. AA’hcn accused of this exchange of raiment, accused claimed that lie bought and paid for the clothes, the price mentioned being a few shillings. The owner valued them at between £5 and £6. AA’lien asked what he had to sa.v for himself, Lund at first protested that he was in a state of intoxication at the time, hut ' r ot mixed in an attempt to involve the police in an unjust arrest for drunkenness. He the.ii changed liis tactics, and with an air of pained innocence expressed his intention. under the circumstances, to plead guilty, and was remanded for committal.