Theft by an Elephant

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 4

Theft by an Elephant

The contents of a elobhes-chcst, belonging to one of tho people employed in the camiralin the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, disappeared one Wednesday recently in a ratheramusingfashion. Itseems thatoneof the men, having occasion early in the day to open a cheat in which ho keeps some clothing and other personal necessaries, in search of a brush, to hi* astonishment found the box cleaned out. He mentioned his loss to the management, and some concern was expressed on the matter, though it was almost impossible to discover how a thief could have secured the property; considering the place in which the chest lay. The mystery, however, was soon cleared up in rather a remarkable manner. The chest, it appears, hud been lying near the performing troupe of elephants, and, in the morning, ,it> was observed that one of these animals waftparticularly lively, and apparently in the very highest spirits. Recollecting . this* while bemoaning his loss, the owner of the loat pr'ooerty " found one ,of the elephants ' could easily reach, the box, and v as"xta conduct all morning had betokened ia» good deal of self-satisfaction, it .was at. once, conjectured that) the clothes had been made away with by this animal. Subsequent! examination satisfied the searchers that one of the animals was responsible for the? disappearance of the wardrobe, and as none of the articles could bo discovered hidden away in its vicinity, the 6nly conclusion that, could, be come 1 to was that. >the mischieyous animal had swallowed the whole lot— boots, brushes, shirfcs, trousers, and. several othor particles of wearing aparel.