WESTPORT SENSATION

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1920, Page 4

WESTPORT SENSATION

A PECULIAR BURGLARY. WESTPORT, Feb. 2.The home of Mr Edward Douthett. Romilly street, Westport, was the scene of a sensational burglary some time on Friday night or Saturday morning. Mrs Douthett and family were visiting relatives at Denniston, and Air Douthett, who has been working at the waterside, hut was looking for employment at Denniston, left for the hill on Friday by the 12.15 pan. train. Arrangements were made for Bessie Todd, a niece of Airs Douthett, to feed tlie fowls. She went round on Friday evening at 5 o’clock, and apparently everything was then undisturbed. On Saturday, morning, she went round again and found the door open. Thinking Air Douthett might have returned she went inside, and there saw the rooms in a rifled state, but with no sign of anyone in’ the house.

Aliss Todd then went and informed the neighbours, Mrs J. Craig and Mrs Solomon, and then had a look through the house. Information as to the state of the jilace was at once sent to Airs AleDonagh, senr., and E. Douthett and the Donagli Bros, then visited tho house and informed tho police that evidently there had been a serious raid on tho house. Word was also sent to Deiiniston to the Douthetts, and Air Douthett came in to fmvn.

The inspection showed that the front bedroom had been rifled of most of its contents. The mattress and bedding had disappeared. Three mirrors on the duchess chest had gone. Mats were taken off the floor, and the wall paper was ripped in several places as with a knife. The mats and runner "in tlie passage had also disappeared.

The contents of the other front rooms were apparently undisturbed. The second bedroom, however, had also had a visitation. The wall paper was ripped similarly to that of the front room; drawers were rifled of contents. The bed clothes and the mattress had gone, hut the mattress, together with a sack packed ready to take away, were found in the kitchen. A camera had also disappeared out of this bedroom.

The dining room was also in a highly disturbed state. Everything was taken off the sideboard. A small lamp was on the table, but the globe was lying broken on the floor. Even the cupboard was cleaned out of its contents. Two clocks had also done the disappearing trick, also a violin.

In the kitchen were, as mentioned above, contents of other rooms ready for removal. A part dinner service was missing, cupboard bared, a go-cart a push-cart, and. two bicycles were among the missing articles. 'ldle back door was open and the little dog had been let loose. It looked, from the way in which the walls were ripped, as if it had been intended to cover ..up tie burglary by a fire, but that the arrival and invcstiga. tion of the girl upset the plans.

Mr and Mrs Douthett could throw no light, on the affairs. They gave all information in regard to missing articles to the police, who arc leaving no stone unturned to unravel the mystery. Mr Douthett estimated the furniture and goods, irrespective of damage to the property, at from £9O to £IOO. The home is his own. A piano and a machine in the dining room were left undisturbed.