WAVE OF CRIME.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1920, Page 4

WAVE OF CRIME.

MODERN CLAUDE DUVAL. BURGLAR’S LOVE AFFAIRS. LONDON, Dec. 12. The police note the increase in daring burglaries with concern. One of the most remarkable was carried out in Belgravia, at the residence-of Paul Nelke, the son of a German banker. Early last night, a thief climbed the portico, entered, a bedroom, and collected jewels valued, at £IO,OOO. He escaped unseen, though the family and servants were present in adjoining i^poms. A hue-and-cry has been- raised for Alfred Redfern, a motor bandit, who is wanted in connection with a Leeds bank outrage. London, Bristol, and Bath are being searched. Redfern is 6ft high, and a former officer. The police are placarding the country with photographs and descriptions. Redfern recently rented a shop at Bath, where he courted a charming girl. Describing the robbery, a message says that the burglar entered a bank at Leeds,

nnd called out to the manager, Oates, to hold up his hands. Oates refused to comply, and attempted to capture rue burglar, who fired his revolver, killing the manager instantly. ' He then locked up three assistants in the lavatory, fired through the door, and carried off £4OO, joining two accomplices in a waiting motor-car, and escaped.

Redfem was arrested at Bristol. His appearance shows that he. is suffering from wounds received during the war, but he is not deformed. The outrage has caused consternation in Leeds, and the police are supplying guards for banks and railway stations. Redfem was a sociable, popular man, but subject to nervous excitement. His shop was called “Marion’s Smart Little Shop for Women.” He does not seem to have tried to evade the police, but travelled to Bath and joined two friends there, and then went with other friends to Bristol, where he was arrested at the post office. A similar outrage was committed today at Barclay’s Bank, Wood Green, London. A discharged- soldier, Brown, entered the manager’s office and field him up with a revolver. The manager rushed for assistance, and Brown fired, but hit nothing. The clerks then hold him until the police arrived. I LONDON, Dec. 13. |

The numerous bank burglaries and daily jewel robberies in London,- )with the recent murders and savage assaults, are discussed in the newspapers as the beginning of a wave of crime predicted by. doctors and criminologists as the aftermath of the war. The smartest detectives aro baffled, and the majority of cases suggest a now typo of thief combining extreme cleverness with daring. The “Daily Express” urges sterner punishments—hanging for all delibor-

ate murders and flogging for lesser] criminals'.

The correspondent of the “Times” at Bristol states that it appears that Redfern’s miifd is intermittently affected as the result of severe wounds, and lie was recently worried over unlucky speculations. His record of w T ar service is excellent. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, and recommended for the Military Cross.

Redfern, emaciated, cadaverous, and almost lifeless, was assisted into tire dock, and charged with murder. He did not plead, and was removed, leaning heavily on the policeman.