A SERIES OF ROBBERIES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 175, 3 November 1910, Page 4

A SERIES OF ROBBERIES

LOCAL POLICE MAKE A SMART ARREST. When a "News" man visited Detective Boddam's office last evening oti his usual round of duties lie found the place presenting an appearance more like a second-hand dealer's shop than anything else. It was a formidable array of articles that met his gaze. There was a six-chambered revolver (fully loaded) on the table as lie opened the door, and safe behind it was a collection of jewellery that any woman would be glad to possess. Gold watches, diamond and sapphire rings and other valuable articles dear to the feminine heart lay around, while 011 the lioor boxes ol clothing apparrel, ranging hi description from men's trousers to women's tan shoes, rested indiscriminately. These, it was learnt, were the proceeds of robberies which had been reported to the police during the last week or 90, and oti a charge of stealing which, John Charles Seymour, alias Charles Simpkiss. was then an occupant, of the cells. The arrest was made aMut 6 o'clock last evening, Detective lhxldnm and Constables Mclvor and O'Xeil! getting their man at a local boarding-house. Ingenuity in secreting the stolen articles was shown by the discovery of two five-shilling pieces in the bottom of a full tin of boot polish, which doubtless had had previous close relation with the. aforementioned shoes. Then in the ease of a lady's gold neck chain, the entire dismemberment of an ordinary alarm clock was necessary before it could be recovered. The timepiece, which was merrily ticking away the seconds of time, had been made the receptacle for valuable rings, gold pieces and other jewellery. A novel watch pocket, containing one of the watches, was discovered on the inside of the leg of a man's pants. The accused is to appear at the Court this morning to answer the charges.