MASTER BURGLAR

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 112, 2 May 1908, Page 4

MASTER BURGLAR

London, February 22. " Professor Moriarty/ depicted by Sir Julian Doyle in "Sherlock 1101111055/' who crouched in a 'web of crime, lias a living counterpart in Joseph ilebburn, who, as reported yesterday, was sentenced at the Aewington Session* to three and a half years' penal servitude. Like " Moriarty, iiebbum, referred to by tlie eight burglars (one a negro) lie employed as "Manuel,' simply "pulled the strings," subordinates carrying out the daring scheme* hy evolved. Within live months he planned close upon twenty robberies in South-Weal London, Kecentiy his rtaburdinai.es fell, one by one, into th(> net of the law. until he himself was obliged to take part in an ingenious shop robbery in Putney, when a smart detective, Sergeant Da | vies, who had bewi following, caught ! him in the act. j Only twenty-five, "Manuel" wan agile, i well-spoken and cunning to a degree. His "headquarters" were never known. He moved from point to point, sometimes taking rooms iu lodging-houses, al others in -small notels. Isven. when his men were working out his plaus he professed a friendship for the police, approached the detectives trying to trace him. suggested iine.s of enquiry, and strove to lead them oil' the scent. Flats and -hops were his principal objivlive. lb- is neticved t<» have had a small anny ol spies and "intelligence men." Having found out by their help every detail of the movement of his victims, and the precautions taken to safeguard till, safe, or valuables he was to rille, ha called a meeting of two or more of his satellites and devised a plan of campaign. But when the burglary was committed he was usually far from the spot. lie i H believed to have plamuuMlic following typical scheme. A lady 111 a suburban Hat received a telegram purporting to come from her husband, asking her to meet him in the city. Half an hour after she had gone, leaving the Hat unoccupied, a pantechnicon van with two men in charge drove up. Every stick of furniture and every article of val\H» was moved out into the van. But for the suspicions of a neighbour, who astonished at the sudden removal, informed the police and so led to the capture of one of the men, the robbery would have heen completely successful.