SONG AND SIREN

Hokitika Guardian, 20 May 1921, Page 4

SONG AND SIREN

MUSIC AS AN AID TO CRIME. * SYDNEY, May 11 The story of a crime, told to the Melbourne police on Saturday, had some very amusing aspects. The complaint was made by D. Morrison, a jeweller, of Johnston street, Collingwood. lie said he had been “the victim of a cunningly-devised plot in which a young woman had acted as a decoy.” The woman came to his shop some nights ago, bought a pair of can rings, and tqkl the interested jeweller that she just loved motoring. Morrison said he had a ear, and the lady let him know, coyly, that she was not unwilling to take an evening drive with him. So tlwy arranged a date. Morrison duly met the lady, and they motored to Hampton Beach, where they sat for an hour near the water’s edge. The lady bad said she was fond of music, and Morrison had brought his ukelele. As they sat romantically on the bench, he played to her. The jeweller thinks that the lady encouraged him to play so that they could lie located. At any rate, he was suddenly attacked by two men, who had evidently followed in a ear and crept up behind them. He was hit op the head, and feigned insensibility. There upon he was trussed up, and the men went through his pockets. The lady stood calmly by. Presently they found •his keys. One of the men and the woman then left in a car, while the second man remained on guard. Morrison lay “doggo.” Two hours passed, and then the other two came back, picked up their companion, and the three left in their ear.

Morrison promptly wriggled himselt out of the handkerchiefs which bound him, got into the ear, and went after the bandits. But: they had interfered with the wiring of his ear, and his progress was erratic and slow. He lost sight of his quarry in St Kilda road, and thereupon went straight to the police.

The police and Morrison then went to liis shop. Sure enough, the front door had been opened, and a glass partition smashed. Rut inside was a stoollined door, upon which the thieves had not calculated, and this had barred their further progress. They had made a mild attack upon it and had then, it seemed, given up. Nothing was stolen. Morrison bad to have medical attention. ITis scalp was severely lacerated.