Burglaries in Stratford

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 61, 16 June 1916, Page 5

Burglaries in Stratford

j TWO PREMISES VISITED. R. H. WHITE A?4D CO. COUNTY' SAMPLE ROOMS. LITTLE COIN, MUCH CLOTHING. j “A SHORT SMALL MAN.” i Two burglaries occurred in Stratford last evening or this morning, when the promises of Messrs R. H. White and Co., drapers and mercers, and the Xo. 1 Sample Room at the County Hotel, were entered, and a quantity of clothing and other articles stolen. WHITE AND CO.’S, j At R. H. White and Co.’s premises, ! entrance was effected through the back window. The burglar scaled the back j fence, and placing the hand truck I against the office window sill broke the pane of glass and released the catch, j After walking over the office desk he j made for the door leading to the shop, 'and finding it locked, removed the ; catch. On gaining admittance to the ishop, the intruder made his way to the men’s department, from which he selected a man’s box suit and a pair of trousers and a vest from another box. The clothes were of a small size. The three tills all. contained cash, but this was left untouched. The only money missing this morning was a sum of 3s 3d, which was on a cabinet! in the main shop. As fan as could be ascertained this morning, the clothes and the silver ware the only articles missing. The burglar evidently left the premises by the front door near Began street, for it was found to be ajar this morning.

A light was reported to have been seen in White’s shop at about 10.30 o’clock last evening, but this adds to the mystery, as neither Mr White nor his brother were near the premises atl the time.

The premises were locked up as usual last evening, and Mr R. H. White called at the shop before 8 o’clock when everything was intact. On opening up the premises at 8 o’clock this morning, Mr White noticed that one of the front doors was ajar, and on trying to unlock the office door an employee found that the catch was broken off.

The burglar evidently tried to effect an entrance at the back of the Broadway Tailoring Coy’s premises, for, on an inspection being made this morning, it was discovered that the put’.y had been scraped off the window sill, and an instrument had been used in an attempt to prise open the window. To all appearances, the window had not been opened, and nothing was missing from the shop. AT THE COUNTY.

At No. 1 Sample Room at the County Hotel, the burglar made a thorough inspection of all the men’s attire. To effect an entrance, a.Jadder was placed alongside the back window, and thus the catch could have been released. The intruder rummaged in the basket containing men’s woollen goods, and from appearances, seems to have tried on a numbly of the articles. The overcoats were also inspected, the burglar evidently tiding to find one to his liking, as they were thrown indiscriminately on the tables. When a check was made of the articles a small overcoat was missing. A number of other articles were also missing, including two dozen Sifaall bath towels,- two big towels, braces, shirts, knitted scarfs, underpants, singlets, soft black felt hats, combs, collars, ties, and eight dozen handkerchiefs. In practically every case, the goods missing were to fit a short small man. In one instance, a shirt, a small size, was rolled up and put on\,one side, but was evidently forgotten. The sample of material and color was taken off and laid on the table near by. On leaving the premises it .was necessary for the burglar to cross over one of the tables, and in doing so,- ho stepped on two hats, leaving muddy boot marks.

The traveller whoso goods were in the sample room stated to a “Post” representative that he had been working last evening, and on leaving tho premises at 9.‘20, he had locked tho doors and windows. On opening tho door this morning, he noticed that the room had been visited and a number of articles stolon. NOT A LADY’S MAN. ' Two other sample rooms were visited, but the goods were locked up in baskets, only two parcels being left out ready to be delivered. One parcel containing a lady’s costume was opened, but probably on discovering tho contents, the burglar left it as unsuitable. . - LICE ON THE SCENT. The police wore notified of the two burglaries at 8 o’clock this morning, and they obtained a number of articles containing finger prints and other marks, and are at present pursuing their investigations.