WHOLESALE ROBBER IT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2004, 6 February 1890, Page 3

WHOLESALE ROBBER IT.

; ’ Meeboeene, Jan. 30. Eew more barefaced irobberies than the one which two brothers have committed in this city are on record. '1 he detectives one night last week arrested two brothers, named George and Charles Chamberlain on a charge of stealing goods to the value of £SOO, the property of Messrs Alfred Fenton and Sons, china merchants, etc., of Bourke street. The brothers Chamberlain had been in the employ of the firm since April of last year in the capacity of packers. Their duties kept them later than any of the other employes, but they came with such high recommendations that every confidence was placed in them.. For some time past various'articles have been missed from the warehouse, and Messrs Brown and Osborne, drapers, and Mr Josesh Watt, bootmaker, whose premises adjoin Messrs Fenton and Co.’s place, suffered in a similar manner. On Saturday last the brothers Chamberlain gave notice of their intention to leave the firm’s employ, and stated that they intended to start a.. small establishment of their own in South Melbourne. This sudden acquisitionof moderate means attracted suspicion to them, and on Monday night the detectives, in company with Mr Fenton, jun,, visited a house in Cowie street, South Melbourne, where the brothers resided, without explaining their mission. They were shown into the sitting-room, which was elaborately furnished in the most tasteful manner, articles of bric-a-brac being planted all round the apartment. Hr Fenton, jun., at once identified most of the articles as part of the property which had been stolen from his shop, aud when the brothers made their appearance they were at once arrested. An examination of the house was then made, and in the various rooms were discovered large quantities of property which had been reported as stolen from Messrs Brown and Osborne and Mr Watt, These included rolls of carpet, hearth rugs, table covers, and boots and shoes of every description. The brothers then confessed their guilt. They explained that they had made their way into the adjoining premises by getting through the skylight, and that they had removed the goods by hoisting them out through the same opening. The total value of property recovered is about £2OOO. The brothers were then brought into town, and lodged in the city watch house, George is 24j years of age, and Charles is 22,