Surprised by a Corpse.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 6 May 1904, Page 4

Surprised by a Corpse.

f ' A GRIM EXPERIENCE. Burglars at Cricklewood have had '- ' the startling experience of being put > ' to flight ty a corpse, * For about eight or nine months i past a gang of men have infested the " neighbourhood, breaking into several houses and carrying oil articles of considerable value. Recently a number of burglars, pre--1 Bumably of the same gang, turned their attention to a bouse in Hcvenden road, which had the appearance ' of being unoccupied, the Winds being V drawn and the place in darkness. They effected an entrance by means ' of the back kitchen window, and then commenced ransacking every room in jtbo spacious house. ' Finally, having loaded themselves with booty, they forced their way into a back bedroom. There, as in the case of the other bedrooms they had visited, they proceeded to throw back the bedclothes, in the hope of finding valuables hidden underneath. Over the bed had been placed a white sheet, and this the burglars hurriedly removed, to discover—the corpse of an elderly lady. That, overwhelmed by the shock, they took to their heels in fright, is evident from the fact that a considerable quantity of property which they bad packed ready for removal, nas left scattered over the floor of ' | the room. As it was, however, they got oft with a good haul of jewellery. It seems that the lady had died that day, and the relatives, it is , stated, had left the house for a time to make the necessary arrangements for the funeral. When they returned, their surprise at finding that in their absence burglars had played havoc with the place may be easily imagined.