THE BREAKING INTO.

Manawatu Herald, 3 May 1898, Page 2

THE BREAKING INTO.

Owing to the office window being open it was a sure sign that the burglar had entered the premises that way, and on the outside sand showed where his feet had been put on the skirting board of the building, then upon the window sill, and then upon the table in the office. The visitor was intent upon finding something, there evidently not being that which he had expected. He ransacked a cupboard of pigeon holes throwing their contents on the floor, and then had a hunt on the shelves on the wall. To see properly what he was doing he must have lit a match which set on fire some loose papers, and curiously enough discovered to him a leather purse which had been jammed between two books. This he emptied of its contents comprising four one pound aotes and one pound's worth of silver, and as the illumination was spreading beat a hasty re reat through the window. The burglar was not an active person a h r quired the assistance of a chair to get upon the table, and it

was this fortunate accident that s v d the house from being burnt down, [illegible] in getting on the table he upset the chair and it was this noise that wake Mrs Langdon.

The burglar left no trace of any sort about the premises to secure his id n itication, but he evidently knew the ran of the building and the dispo i ion of the dwellers therein, and he must have prepared something to kep the dogs quiet, as one is a savage beast. Mr Langdon was surprised at the dogs not barking and he whistled and called to them but they never came to him, though when they were again seen they appeared fresh and healthy. The building is insured in Wellington, but the majority of the furniture, which is Mr Langdon's property, was uninsured. The loss would have been great had the fire got a stronger hold, without thinking of the danger the inmates ran of being burnt to death.

Constable Forster has the case in hand and it is probable the clue he has may result in the detection of the thief.

Same years ago this same office was broken into when Mr Wilson was manager, and then £9 was obtained.

This event makes it clear that we have some undesirable persons in the district and householders had better exercise little more precaution as to the safety of their property.