DARING BURGLARY, RESIDENCE IN FRANKLIN ROAD ENTERED. THE BURGLAR CAUGHT REDHANDED. A COOL CUSTOMER. ESCAPED AGAIN. Auckland, December 12.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 429, 18 December 1889, Page 6

DARING BURGLARY, RESIDENCE IN FRANKLIN ROAD ENTERED. THE BURGLAR CAUGHT REDHANDED. A COOL CUSTOMER. ESCAPED AGAIN. Auckland, December 12.

Till':, most daring burglary that has taken place for some considerable time pas>t took place at an early hour this morning. Fonsonby was again the sceno ot operations, and the one policeman , who has to keep watch and ward over the whole district was occupied in the investigation of an incipient fire in the outskirts. The enterprising burglar on this occasion directed his attention to the residenco of Mr JMatheson, ironworker, situated neat the top of Franklin Road, on the right hand side going up the hill. The hous>o is built of brick, cemented, is two stories in height, and stands on an elevated position, co that u burglar must run consideiable risk of being see.n about the premises. The police, having failed to catch the perpetrator of the present and numerous previous burglaries, are remarkably reticent on tho subject, and decline to give any information whatever. The following particulars will, however, be found to bo substantially reliable.

PREVENTION AGAINST BURGLARS. As already stated, Mr Mathesons house is a two-storey bnilding, the bedrooms all being situated on the upper stoiey, -while on the ground floor, there are parlour, sib ting-room, dining-room, kitchen, etc. The occupants include Mr and Mrs Matheeon, and a grown up family of sons and daughters. Previous to last night they had been discussing burglaries that had taken place elsewhere in bhe Ponsonby district, and the precaution had been taken to doubletasben every window with stout iron boibs, in addition to the ordinary fastenings. When the family rebired lasb night, all of the windows, with one exception, were fastened in bhe manner described, and bhe exception proved wonderfully convenient for bhe uninvited visitor, who called about 5.30 this morning.

THE DISCOVERY. About this time, or a few minutes earlie r » Miss Matheson, a young lady of about 2l year 3 of age, got up, dressed, and went downstairs for the purpose of getting her house slippers, which had been left in a small room, situated in the back portion of the house. She found the door ajar, and entered for the purpose of getting her slippers from the nearest corner. She did not notice anything peculiar or unusual about the room, neither did she have any reason to suspect what was about to happen. Before she could cry for help or make any alarm whatever, a powerful man approached fiom behind, and pressed one of his hands firmly and roughly over her mojth. The young lady atrugged, but all to no purpose, and speedily realised that she was entirely in the power of the burglar, for such she was by this time convinced was the character of her assailant.

A COOL CUSTOMER, Keeping one hand firmly over the young lady's mouth, and remaining behind her, the burglar coolly marched herfromthedooi way back to a table which stood in front of the window. On this table there was a handsewing machine which, the burglar had apparently been about to appropriate when disbmbed. While one of his hands was occupied in gagging the young lady, with the other he picked up the hewing machine, turned his. prisoner lound, and marched her out of the door, along the hall, and into the parlour, which is situated in the front of the building. Still keeping his hand on Miss Mathesons mouth, he proceeded to pub the sewing machine into a bag which already contained a variety of articles belonging to Mr Mabheson. In order to accomplish this feat, the burglar, accidentally or un- j avoidably, released the young lady, and although very much frightened, she promptly took advantage of the opportunity thus afforded to alarm the rest ofthe inmate?.

ESCAPED AGAIN. Miss Mabheson screamed for help, and almost immediately had the satislaction of hearing a general movement amongst the rest of the family on the upper btoi y. The burglar was not equally pleased at; this turn of aflairs, and as it became evident that he would have to make a run for it or be captured, he elected not to stand upon the order of hi? going, but go at once. The bag in which he had obtained a valuable collection of curios, wool mats, the sewing machine, and a variety of other articles was on the parlour floor, and close to tho window but he evidently did not think it safe to encumber himself with so much wealth, and took his" depaiture bolus. The parlour window was unfastened, and the burglar, made hie exit while the Messrs Matheson senior and junior wore coming down stairs. When tho two last named arrived on the scene they found tho parlour door locked with the key on the inside. Miss Matheson was also on the inside, and when assured that help was at hand, she mustered up courage to unlock the door and admit the other alarmed inmatee, and explain what had happened.

SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION. Tho burglar, however, bad by this tim© obtained a clear start, and although efforts were made to trace him immediately they proved unsuccessful. Miss Mathesonstated that she would be able to recognise the burglar, and information was forwarded to the police without delay. It was found that the district constable was investigating a small fire elsewhere, and considerable time elapsed before any organised pursuit was commenced. It would appear that the burglar had adopted precautions against surprise, amongst other wise actions, wearing upon his feet very light shoes or slippers, so that his movements wore almost noiseless, and his .nether limbs unencumbered when flight became of more importance than booty. He had evidently a good knowledge of the construction of the house, and singularly enough the window by which the gained his entrance was the only one which was not double-fastened, and it is believed tho only window upon which any aiitempt had been made to lift the sash. The police have had the matter under investigation all day, bub so far the burglar is still at large.