“WOMEN" ROBBERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1923, Page 4

“WOMEN" ROBBERS.

HOW THEY DODGE THE POLICE. A recently reported ease provides ns ■with an example of how women will even s) vagely attack their victims, gag iLcni, ami otherwise subject them to Cue very worst ill-treatment, says the “Weekly Record” (Glasgow). One fee!-: inclined Jo speculate as to whether these feminine outlaws are really women at all. or whether they may not he nun masquerading in women’s attire.

Tiie present-day criminal is ever on the lookout for new forms of subterfuge. and new methods wherewith to camouflage his intentions. In several remit instances, acts of violence, robbery. and worse have been perpetrated by men who have so clearly disguised 'themselves as to deceive even the polite.

A woman, or one who supposedly is a woman, is not subjected to the same amount of suspicion as a man. Notwithstanding the extent to which the criminal world has been invaded by lemalc crooks and .sharpers, it is still preferable to think that these unnatural women are mere exceptions to an aet rp'imtl theory that will not allow t rime to he associated with feminine aspirations.

A young mail, now enjoying the hospitality of Lhe French prison administration. has, for more than seven veai'-. 'pursued a career ol crime entji- Iv unsuspected. During the whole 0 f this period lie has lived the life ol r, woman daintily attired ns a Paris-

11.. lived in a luxurious lilt la Hat. end known to all as \ladciuni-elle Mnliuvnuv. Possessed of a high-pitch-ed soprano voice, he could sing so nwirI'. like, a givl as to deceive oven the neighbours, who listened v. ith much enjoyment to their dainty musician's evening programme.

There is little u. d to recount iucit! qis of litis nia-(|iierader’s career of ciime. It i< siiflicicnt to say that he was involved in many mysterious exploits. vet was never under suspicion, lie was eventually detected when caught red-hand: d with a gang who t:s‘'d tlmir “la.lv” actotnplice to good purpose, and doubtless now wishes that h< had pursued the normal life til Ins

The fairlv roi-rnct instance of a sen

satioiml diamond robbery in I tie Continental boat express will he rememl.j.jvJ, pud serves to show that in tins (Otmti'v ibis lona of su liter!age helicon successfully adopted. In the t in. referred to the envoy of a llatt'Ui Garden linn was personally transporting -o;ne valuable stuck to aln reign branch, and tarried it concealed in a luncheon basket similar to (lie one supplied by the railway ionmaiiio“. Ho ;•;<o bad with him a Steel vase

and a portmanteau. Ho manage", to -oeure an empty compartment. hut j.j.; as the train was about to -lari a iadv hurriedly enter'd, and made herself cmifortahli.' in a corner seat. Ere the j.,.|,'|iey had been completed, she he; pine \ iob'ntlv ill. and the gallant traveller offered her such assistance as lie was able to give.

Wlieii the- express pulled up sat a •■I;-: i> ;ii ha left lb." train in order to ~ .| eup of hot water from a platIV;r ;i hail'et. and hi.-, agitated travelling . o-ai anion pmics-ed w> he much' roll', vd as a. tv.-nit of having partaken n r ibis simple remedy. f l be story concludes with the sensational substitution o: Lite luncheon basket, tl:.' steel case and the portmanteau being 101 l undisturbed. . Of course the movements of this diamond earlier were previously forecasted. hut- the interesting point so far as this account ol the affair was concerned i; that the “lady’' was no lady at all. hut a eamoullaged train robber.