Robbery Across the Sea.

Manawatu Herald, 13 April 1893, Page 3

Robbery Across the Sea.

Some few weeks ago the Sydney newspapers contained a report of an extensive robbery from the premises of a Sydney watchmaker. The goods stolen by the burglars amounted to more than £600, and the papers recorded the fact that a well-known burglar had been sent to penal servitude for a period of five years. A portion only of the stolen watches were recovered by the Sydney police, and strange to say, the police in "Wellington received no official intimation either of the robbery or of the fact that it might be likely that the confederates of the convicted man would endeavour to dispose of che remainder of the stolen property in New Zealand. From an arrest which Detective Campbell effected it would appear that the rnytery as to where this property has gone to will be cleared up. The prisoner is a young-looking person of about 30 years of age, who gave his name as Thomas Nelson Mills. The nian was arrested in the auction room of Mr W. F. Shorfct, charged on .suspicion of stealing a number of gold and silver watches (quite new) in the hands of Mr Shortfc for sale by auc- . tion. Some of these watches were sold on Friday last, and on the prisoner going to the auctioneer on Tuesday for his account sales, he was requested by Mr Shortfc to call again in the afternoon, as some of the returns were not ready. Mr Shortt employed this excuse as a subterfuge, as he was suspicious of the bona fides of his client, and was anxious to communicate with the police. This he did, the result being that the detective was close at hand, and when Mills put in an appearance he was arrested.