BURGLARIES IN TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2398, 13 September 1892, Page 3

BURGLARIES IN TEMUKA.

So fa r there is no clue to the perpetrators of the late burglaries in Temuka. It is more than likely that whoever entered the Presbyoriau Manse were those who robbed Messrs Roulston’s and McCaskilTs shops. The articles taken from the Manse were trinkets. Things were knocked and messed about but the thieves eonfined their depredations chiefly to light articles. It was the same in the robberies in the town. Mr Roulston’s premises were entered by a window in the back, but a door had still to be opened to get into the shop. This was done. Mr Roulston had been working in the shop until midnight on the same night, and when he left he locked the door leading from a back room into the shop, and took the key out of the lock. Had he left the key in the lock the thieves could not have inserted another key, and consequently would not been able to enter the shop. As it was they had no difficulty, as they had a key that opened the door. They seemed to go to work very recklessly, for they went into

the front windows, broke glass cases that were in them, and took away some small articles, including several Waterbury watches. They also took all the “ Brummagem ” jewellery they found, as well as some suits of clothes, silk handkerchiefs etc. They acted like a bull

in a china-shop, knocking everything about, so that the place was in a mess when Mr Roulston reached there next morning. If this meets their eyes no doubt they will be chagrined to learn that they left the cash-box, in which there was a considerable sum of money, untoxxched. It was lying there in a conspicuous place, but somehow it escaped their notice. With regard to Mr McCaskilTs, they appear to have entered the shop by the street door, which they opened by means of a key. and they locked it after them when leaving. There they showed signs of hunger, for they tasted a bit of almost everytlxing there. Apples half eaten, sponge cakes with mouthfuls taken out of them, oranges partly xnutilated were to be seen there strewn promiscuously over the floor next morning. From this place also they took only light articles — sxxch as pipes, razors, knives, and odds and ends like that. AVe understand that Mr Roulston values the articles taken from his shop at about £3O, and Mr McCaskilTs loss is between £8 and £3. At the back of Mr Roulston’s there was a bag full of chaff. This bag they emptied, axxd used it to carry the swag in. Since writing the above we find that the police have arrested two youths who are suspected of having been concerned in the burglary. One is named Gibson, an apprenticed blacksmith, and the other is named Cone, driver of a milk-cart. Detective Livingstone has been in Temuka for the last couple of days, and this is the result of his exertions. We have not been able to obtain particulars, but it was understood that the police had better grounds than mere suspicion for making the arrests; in fact we believe some of the goods have been discovered. Later. At 11.30 the police arrested the third lad, named John Hay, as he was on his way home to Epworth from the circus at Winchester. This completes the number suspected. We learn that a great deal of the stolen articles have been recovered, and amongst them are some of the articles taken from Mr Findlay’s shop several months ago ; also articles from the manse, from Mr Job Brown’s, and Messrs E.ouls ton’s and McCaskilTs. We believe that all the missing property will be recovered excepting the money, and some of that has also been got. The youths had each his own share planted near his homo. Cone’s share was divided into three parts, some being in a straw stack, and some ixx the x’iver-bed in two places. Gibsoxx had his share in a big lolly-tin thrown carelessly under a hedge on his fathei’’s section, and Hay had his concealed in the Temuka river-bank close to the bridge. We believe they have confessed all, so there can be no doubt as totheirguilt. They say they stole the key some time ago out of Mr McCaskilTs door, aud it was with that they effected an entry into it. They also say they filed two other keys down so as to make them open doo s. It is fortunate they have been caught, as they appeared to have settled down thoroughly to business. They appear not to have only stolen from others, but they were stealing from each other. Hay had certain articles planted,but Cone knew where the plant was, axxd so he operated upon it aud planted it in his preserves. Detectiue Livingstone deserves credit for having ferreted them out. They will appear at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning.