CRUBZCRACKING.

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 6

CRUBZCRACKING.

A Parson's Place Plundered.

. It is an old dodge for tjueyes to wait until a parson and his' family have left their shack to go to divine and then to rifle the show. The game has been successfully tried on a. number of occasions m Cirri st•ctiurch, the last manse plundered being that of the Rev. McKenzie, of St. •Andrew's. Jewellery was the principal article stolen, Mrs ' McKenzie' s jewel case being emptied.. She- thought the lot would be worth between £60 and £70 j although the charge sheet only showed £54, and it didn't enumerate all the articles. . There were quite a number of these, and small things such as aKr tiger sprat, a Waterbury ticker, a Young Women's Christian Association badge, a pair of ladies' gloves, and" a letter from her father. The house had beea securely locked up before going to church, but after her return she saw that a; window* had been broken anil an entrance effected/ and her jewel case open and empty. Also three pounds ten were non est. Miss Ella Roche, daughter of Maurice Roche, gaye important evidence. She was standing m Tuam-strect and saw the two accused, James Mclntyr'e and Frank Sayles. standing talking. They: were watching the' Rev. McKenzioi going to kirk, and Sayles was; incidentally keeping an eye, on her. They were ■ ~

NEAR THE PARSON'S HOUSE at the time. She hadn't the slightest doubt as to the identity of the pair. 'Tec. Connell told the Court that he saw the pair at the Riccarton racecourse on the day following the robbery, and watched them. They went tp the outside urinal and he saw Mclntyre show Sayles something he had m his hand. Connell approached and said, "I want to see what you have got there mate." Mclntyre replied m his most polite style :> "No, I'm b- — if you do. Then; he closed' his fist and hit at Connell, and there was a struggle. Shortly after he heard something .jingle, and then Mclntyre became quiet. "What is all the trouble about ?" he asked. "You have dropped what you had m your hand," replied Connell, a statement that was, denied.. Just then Gunner

McKee of the Permanent 'Artillery came up, picked up a ring and handed it to Connell. . In the meantime Sayles thought it wise to decamp. Mclntyre was then arrested, and on the way down he said, "You won't pipe me this time ; you have got hold of the wrong party. The bloke that gat away has got the stuff." After the arrest of Sayles this conversation was repeated to him, and he denied it. He avowed that the reason he ran away on 'the course was because he saw them, scuffling, and he didn't want to be dragged "m as a witness. The pair were ordered to stand their trial. Both pleaded not guilty. . :