£50,000 THIEF.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1920, Page 1

£50,000 THIEF.

pl.vt FULL OF jewels and OTHER LOOT. NEW YORK, December 29. A man giving the name of Edward Shelley ,a kineina actor, who has twice been a convict and served throughout the war as a sergeant-major in a Canadian infantry battahau, being " oul j ed six times, has described to the detectives at police headquarters here how, during the last six months he has robbed every big hotel in York. He has secured boot} to t value of £50,000. As a result of the information given by the prisoner, police visited two apartments in a fashionable quarter of the citv and found them literally Huffed with rings, watches, bracelets, neckhues furs, women’s expensive gowns, and other valuables. In addition there were 141 pawn ticket, representing jewels worth as much as the rest of the loot put together. Describing his methods, Shelley saw ho would Hay at an expensive hotel

with an accomplice, both being apparently men of means. They would find out details concerning wealthy [guests, and before the bitter lwd been iin the hotel long enough to bo known by sight to the office clerks one of the two would ask for the keys of the prospective victim’s room, as though jfc belonged to him. He would then rifle it at leisure while the occupant was absent.