BURGLARS WHO ROB BURGLARS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 28, 5 April 1907, Page 2

BURGLARS WHO ROB BURGLARS.

Two of a trade, rarely agree, goes the old saying. Hurglars, as a rule, are true to their fellow professionals, but there are traitors even among the light-fmgered gentry. A trio of housebreakers were trapped by a band of burglars as they left the house laden with spoil. Seven strong the. opposing party readily pinioned the men gaged, and bound them ; one of the-company carrying (lie treasure to a place of safety, while the others amun-d themselves by lashing the helpless three to the trees where they would be instantly sighted by the plundered householders. Of course, their story was scarcely believed, and who had bound the prisoners ? Hut for the confession of one of the seven, the ail'air would have remained a mystery. This explanation, however, was not tendered until the three had served a term of imprisonment. When the culprits were released from their cords it was necessary to administer stimulants, being half-dead with fright and exposure to the bitter winds, the savage assailants having divested them of the greater part of their clothing. A crafty fellow of burglarious tendencies watched a rough fellow gain ontrance into a solitary hous<> through the lower windows. Hiding behind the thick « bushes he awaited events, having previously stretched cords tightly across the lawiT j.ust in front of the place of entrance. Half-an-hour later the man carefully stepped out, turning the light of his bull's-eye over the path to make sure of an uninterrupted dash for the gate. No sooner had he turned the dark slide over the flame than he came crash over the cords, and was instantly felled as he struggled to regain his feet by a "blow from an iron-headed cane. Thus stunned, his captor eased him of the few valuables on his person, fastened his arms and legs with the cords laid for the snare and was about to thrust him into a wood hut beyo.nd the grass plot, when the man in blue appeared, evidently warned by the half-conscious victim's yell as he was being dragged away. Hare-like, the free man fled into the darkness, the lonely locality enabling him to got away. How much of the real marauder's story would have been believed had not the policeman witnessed a part of the transaction? 11 is term of bondage was comparatively slight tinder the circumstances, the wound on his head requiring medical supervision for weeks afterwards. Of course he was unable to give a description of his opponent, and the little light that was thrown on the subject by the official was not of much account. The burglar declared that he had heard his fellows speak of gentlemanly sort of person who preyed on single-handed housebreakers, being warned of his presence in that particular county.