BUSINESS MAN BY DAY; BURGLAR BY NIGHT.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 153, 6 February 1903, Page 4

BUSINESS MAN BY DAY; BURGLAR BY NIGHT.

Philadelphia, 3rd January.---A remarkable story of a double life has.just been revealed by the arrest of Gebi ge Dickinson, a notorioijs burglar. Dickinson belonged to a good family,-' and is educated, but his ungovernable criminal instincts, made him a: burglar and, caused him to serve several terms in, prison. Two years ago Dickinson settled in Philadelphia, kept bis criminal career a profound kecret’jand,- ex-entur ally, became a member of a prosperous firm of shirt - manufacturers. During the day he was a respectable business n an, and at night, he plied his vocation of burglar. He is a skilled mechanic, made his own “professionar implements and had a jeweller’s furnace and crucible and home, in which he melted down the gold and silver he stole. He always committed his burglaries at midnight, wore evening dress, and conducted his operations in the most stylish and manner. He occupied fashionable apartments, and was very regular in his habits, so that none of his friends ever suspected him. During the past few mouths over a hundred mysterious burglaries have occurred in Philadelphia, for many of which Dickinson is believed to he responsible He was captured a few nights ago while attempting to force an entrance into a house. When an-ested, he made a desperate resistance, took away a policeman’s revolver-, and shot him in the leg, but was overpoweied after a terrific struggle. When the police searched his apartments they found large quantities of mutilated silvtrware, jewellery and costly bric-a-brac, the proceeds of his recent burglaries.

An alarming accident happened at the Brilliant Central mine, Cl arters Towers, Queensland, recently'. A cage with six men was being lowtr d when thfe engine bolted, and the cage crashed down on to the beaiers, across the shaft, 1556 ft level. All the men were badly hurt. The following are the particulars of the injuries they sustained : Andrew M’Kersie, very badly broken left thigh, both ankles* broken ; Victor Daley, left arm broken, also small bone in the right ankle ; C Bloomfield/both brokenp Ohippini, compound fracture of the right leg, broken left foot ; T. Butleiy both ankle* broken ; William Watson, left thigh broken, and other injuries. It is not anticipated that any cases will prove fatal. Two years, after his reported death in South Africa a volunteer named J. W, H. Smith has arrived safe and sound tp Swansea.

As a safeguard against grave robberies the authorities of New Albany, Indianc, have decided to light up the local cemetery with electric arc lights; Probably the largest shipment of live stock ever made in one bottom from Portland (Vic), took place recently? when the s.s. Katanga sailed with 10,000 sheep for South Africa. The sheep were loaded into the ship from the railway trucks arid the embarkation, was carried through without a hitch though the sheep, not being in a very hearty condition, could not be moved very rapidly. It is understood that the shipment was made by the Hamilton Freezing Company, which purchased them at Is or Is 6d per head, and expert to make a substantial profit on the venture:

The Gisborne Borough Council has voted £lO towards the expenses of the local band at the 31asterton contest.

In the Wellington 3iagistrate’s Court. -Magistrate, to able-bodied de fendant : “ Why don’t you work ?” Defendant: “I am too light for heavy work, and too heavy for light work.” They will mix it where he has gone. Thirteen acres of orchard, in full bearing, in the Bagdad Valley, Tasmania, has been sold for .£3OOO. The price includes the present season’s crop and working plant, etc. The following “ matrimonial ” advertisement appears in the Rangitikei Advocate :—“A young man, who has just started dairying, wishes to meet a widow, with four to six children, With a view to above. Age no great consideration, but children must be able to milk.”

A couple of Americans who visited Rotorua for the first time lately voiced pretty well the feelings of all who have been there when they said, “Well, we guess that if we had these steam pots in our country vve would make them hum.”

The Colonial Ammunition Company have patented a “Sentinel” alarm gun. It is intended for the protection of orchards, strawberry gardens, poultry and fowl yards ; also house property from burglars. The gun can be attached with perfect safety to a door, window or gate ; the line can be run round the house or orchard required to be, protected ; no person can then etater without the gun being fired. The gun is very easily loaded, and blank cartridges only are used. It can be s«t to go off with a pull of from §lb to 51b. 31ichael Harold, aged 82 years, had a shocking experience at Thurgocna last week. He was living in a hut alone, and had not been seen about for some days. A visit to his hut revealed that the unfortunate old man had been stricken with paralysis, and, while unable to move, was. attacked by swarms of ants, parts of his body being completely eaten away. He was in an unconscious, condition and was removed to the Albury Hospital, where he is not expected to recover.