BRAVE AUCKLAND GIRL

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1918, Page 3

BRAVE AUCKLAND GIRL

.CAPTURE OF A BURGLAR. London, April 4. Mh-s Blanche Moss Davis, daughter of Mr. )io-s Davis. of Auckland, ligMreiLiii Jin incident at Brighton on Faster Saturday, as a result of which a man who pave the name of Thomas Green, but, who is supposed to lie the notorious Eddie Guerin, an escapee from Devil's Island, has been arrested. The accused was brought up at the Brighton Police Court by tlie chief eoiistalile. charged with stealing from the lletropole Hotel a dressing-case, four rings, two gold coins, one pearl necklace, a diamond brooch, a pearl pendant, and a gold bracelet, of the value of ,€21)0. These articles were the property of Mrs. Ruby Harris, who is staying at the hotel in company with her 'father and mother, Air. and Airs. Moss Davis, and sister. Hiss Blanche .Moss Davis, on going into her sister's room about f> p.m., found the prisoner with his back turned to her bending over a dressing case. She bravely asked him what lie was doing, and In; said he was mending the drawer. Miss Davis told him ho was a thief, and, running into the corridor, gave the alarm. The prisoner ran quickly out of the room, but a valet, who happened to be coming up the stairs, chased him. Prigoner called out to him to stop. After this prisoner threw a heavy chisel at the valet, and managed to escape into another room. There lie was found by other employees sitting quietly reading with a hat on his head and dull glasses on, evidently hoping to escape detection bv his nonchalance. After a struggle lie was secured and handed over to the police. The dressing case was found with the back ripped lip. In answer to the charge prisoner said lie did not steal the jewellery, as he had not lime to do so, and he asked to be charged with attempting to steal. A remand was granted. The prisoner of Devil's Island, Eddie Giicriii, was convicted of a burglary in the American Express Company's premises in Paris in 11101. He was sent to Devil's Island, French Guiana, and in March, l!)0f>, in company with two other prisoners, he made a dramatic escape. The party got hold of an old canoe, in which they stored all the provisions they could find, and then, one dark night, made for the open sea. One of the men fell overboard, ar-I was immediately devoured by the sharks, with which these waters are infested, but the others managed to reach Georgetown, British Guiana, from which they got to New York. In 1 !)<)('. Guerin came to London, and was betrayed to the police by a woman known as "Chicago May,'' with whom ho had been living previous to his arrest in France. His extradition as au escaped prisoner was demanded by the French Government, but the Lord Chief Justice, on appeal, refused it, on the ground that Guerin was a British subject, born in Iloxton. On the very night after his release, "Chicago May," in company with ia man named Smith, tracked him down and fired at him in Marehmont Street, Russell Square. For this Smith was sent to penal servitude for life and the I woman for 15 veare