Discovery of the Thief.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 39, 10 January 1879, Page 2

Discovery of the Thief.

A Boy the Bobber. [Herald Special— By Telegraph.] Wellington, Thursday, 5.5 p.m. While some small boys were play ing amongst ihe piles of a housa occupied by Mr Bacon, they found a new aatchel, new Martini Henry rifle, and some new brightvcolored blankets, made up into a swag, ready for the road. 'Ihe satchel contained over two hundred notes in a bundle. The property was handed over to police by Millwatd, father of the boy who found it, and a boy named Bacon, who is employed in the Anchor Line office, was attested by the police charged with the robbery. He denied it^ hard at first, but eventually admitted he was guilty. He bought the rifle and two boxes ammunition from Dawson, ironmonger, ibr nine guineas. He subsequently confessed that a pocket-book, with £45, was hidden near Wadestown. The detec-

fcive accompanied him to where the money was secreted, in a rug^d/ inaccessible place in the scrub about two miles from Wudestown, and four from Wellington. The money was found to be all right. The lad exjrassed regret that the whole of thej^aey hud not been at Wadestown, and then he would not have been in custody. The money found under the house was wrapped in a copy, of a newspaper containing account of Kelly and gang. When asked by one of the police if he [ bought rifle with the object of joining Kelly's gang, he leplied he might have done that if he could hare got over. The youth is between 14 and 15 years of age, but rather smart and self-possessed for his age. The whole of money, exclusive of what was paid for rifle, is recovered within some nine or ten pounds. The lad's father is v steady, respectable man.