V SERIES OF BURGLARIES IN TOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 110, 16 May 1902, Page 2

V SERIES OF BURGLARIES IN TOWN.

DAY AND NIGHT ROBBERIES. On Wednesday a serieß of burglaries were committed at private houses and business premises, the former being rati sacked during the day and the latter at night time. Amongst the dwellings entered during the day were those of Messrs Pip') (King street), G. H. Harvey (South-road), and P. Webster (west end), while the night operations, were directed to the establishments of j Messrs Bellringer, 00-operative Stores,' and Crown Dairy Company. Fortunately the thieve* got vary litole for their trouble, but their audacity was none the less remarkable. Two men were ssen by some children on Mr Pipe's verandah in the afternoon, and ns there was no one at home they easily effected an entry, and evidently indulged in the fragant wetd while coolly conducting their ransacking operations. Their haul here consisted of Is Id, some money in a drawer escaping their attention. At Mr Harvey's house, which was also left unprotecfctd, an entrance was effected by forcing a back window, and. a pair of new boots, 12s iu silver and some keys were abstracted, aad it was evident a search had been made for more money. Mr P. Webster's house was also ransacked, nut no details are available as to whether anything was taken.

The night operations appear to have commenced at Messrs Bellringer's shop some time after midnight, an entry being effected from the rear by means of breaking a pane of glass and unfastening the window sash. An attempt was made to force in the rivet under the lock i f the larger of the two safes in the office, but without success. Mr Cattran, who resides in the adjoining premises, was disturbed by unusual souods and got up and opened\ the window, which overlooks Bellripgei's office, and thus probably disturbed the marauders, who took away a bundle of keys which were found at the Orown Dairy Company's office, which was next visited. Here an entrance w»s gained by means of one of the fiont windows, the catch of which was forced, probibly with a putty knife taken from Bellringei's. No attempt was made on the sife, but two o'd watches and a macintosh were taken, while tome pound no'es in one of the desks escaped no'ice. Tbe door of the Cooperative Stem was found open by' Constab'6 Buttimore while on his round, but as far as can be ascertained no robbery had been committed tber.3. Mr Brash, who was the last to leave the premises, securely closed the doors.) The*night was rough and a's times) dark, though not so much so as to prevent people being se.m moving about. I

TWO MEN ARRESTED. The police during th'j day obtained some clues which lod to tho arrest if two moc at about 4.30 by Constable Builimora, at the Terminus Hotel, They gave thiir nxmea (probably nasumed) as Maliraverf, ngijj 28, and John Rex, 39. Mai fra vers was working in Now I Plymouth for Mr Bellringer as a

I painter for two or th e" weeks bef- re Christmas. Ha a*id who also stated he was a painter, returned to Now Plymouth on Saturday uight last, staying at Mrs Edwards' boardinghouse, On Monday Maltravers (or Rose, as he still gave his nam?) went; , to work for Mr West, painter, but so , far as is known Rex did nothing, i though he represented he was going to 1 work for Mr West alsJ. The men in th'ii - pe ambulations j carried with them a tm ill black bos,' t I'liey went out after tea on Wednesday ! evening taking the bos; with them, and ' did not return till after the heavy L thunderstorm on Thursday morning, | therefore it must have after two ! o'clock. At breakfast time they said . they bad been out "to spend the evenI ing "at Fitzroy. Apparently they did not bring ihe box buck with them, »s ; it was not found yesterday anywhere. J The police are anxious to obtain pos- , svsaion of this little aflair, which they > believe may contain seme evidence; but ' it seems probable tho men have " plan- • ted " it somewhere, J. Search of the prisoner*.' lodgings list > evoning revealed nothing fre«h. Rose is apparently a pretty cool 1 customer, as when taken to his lodging* by thf> police in the evening, he walkid in with ihe utmost sang froid, smoking a cigarette and tilking quite u«i concernedly. i Tho boots taken from Mr Harvey's 'place on Wednesday wera subsequently ? I identified amocgst the prisoners' effec s.