TRICKING A BURGLAR.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2371, 22 October 1880, Page 4

TRICKING A BURGLAR.

The perpetrator of the burglary at Government House, Melbourne, on September 17, when a considerable quantity of jewellery belonging to the family of Sir Hercules Robinson was stolen, has been arrested at Sydney. As soon as the offence was committed it was pronounced by Inspector Secretan and Detective Brown to bo that of William Barnes, a noted burglar, who had left Pentridge about a couple of months before. He was watched day and night, and his home underwent the the most rigid search. The yard was dug up in the hopes that the jewellery had been planted in it, the hearthstone uplifted, and the whole place turned about in every manner, but without the slightest success. The only thing left to be done was to watch the movements of Barnes. He was taken to the Government House in hopes that the two servant girls who saw the retreating figure of a man in the grounds of Government House shortly after the burglary might bo able to recognise him, but even in this they were not successful. At last the detectives obtained information which showed that Barnes had forwarded the proceeds of the burglary to Sydney cither by package, post, or rail, and had afterwards proceeded there. Sub-In-spector Camphin of Sydney, wiio had known Barnes previously was told off to watch him, and from circumstances which transpired, he considered it advisable to arrest Barnes on October 11. On being searched the following articles were found in his possession : —One gold keyless watch, with monogram “M. C.D.,” the property of Mr Davies , and forming part of the proceeds of a burglary at Mcozic’s Hotel, and a sapphire ring, diamond eardrops, diamond breastpin, gold Maltese cross with a diamond centre, and a gold albert, constituting some portion of the Government House robbery. Barnes is a noted burglar. He has served several sentences for burglary. He was transported from London to Western Australia for this offence.