A DETECTIVE’S LUCK.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9369, 11 February 1909, Page 7

A DETECTIVE’S LUCK.

An exceptionally big jewellery robbery had occurred in Wellington, and the detective who was given the inquiry had not the least idea of how he was to get a start, as no trace had been left by the robber except a dark lantern. The detective, says the Dominion, groped round in complete darkness for several days, and was still no nearer a clue than When he commenced. Everyone knew his quest, and he was joked on all aides about not having caught his man. At length the officer walked into a billiard room in search of a clue, but with no definite object in view. “Here is some of the stuff,’’ laughed a cueist, touching his gold chain, and the roomful of devotees of the green cloth laughed at the discomfiture of the /detective. “Here’s some more,’’ volunteered a coloured person, who was ; engaged as cook at the establishment, producing a new watch. The detective burned tne matter over in his mind as he walked sorrowfully away from the billiardroom, and decided to go back and interrogate the cook quietly about the watoh, which article he found the man had just become possessed of from a room mate who had given it as security for a loan of 10s preparatory to leaving for Lyttelton. The detective searched the room the traveller had occupied and took possession of a piece of cardboard with several holes in it, which he found hanging on the wall. Farther investigation proved chat the pieces of cardboard used to darken the slides of the"lantern used by the robber of the jeweller’s shop corresponded with the boles in the ■piece of cardboard, and the young mmi who had left for Lyttelton was then sought for. He was located in Christchurch and was found to have disposed of a quantity of the stolen property there, and, when charged, admitted the offence. The balance of the stolen jewellery and plate was fonud buried in a carpet-bag nnder a building in Wellington. It was found out later that the prisoner had a narrow escape on the night that he committed the robbery. ;He had just come out of the shop with the bagful of booty when he passed the policeman of the beat. The nolioeman gazed at the traveller, Who began to complain bitterly about being unabld to obtain lodgings for the night, and the constable advised him of a likely place. The man was well dressed and apparently respectable, and the policeman’s suspicions were not aroused.