A SMART CAPTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2019, 18 June 1885, Page 2

A SMART CAPTURE.

A VERY smart capture of a pickpocket was effected yesterday. It appears that late in the afternoon a working man, named John Wavnock went into one of the rooms of the Club Hotel and lay down on a sofa. After dozing for a short time lie felt someone'meddling with his pockets, and raised himself just in time to see a person leave the room, Mr Elkins, thelandlord, entering a moment after by. another door, Warnock at once told him what had happened, and that he missed his pocketbook, containing two fl notes, his pipe, and several other articles,- Mr Elkins apparently had a suspicion as to who was the thief, for a moment after he confronted Warnock with a man who gave the name of James Carey, whom he immediately identified. Mr Elkins then asked Carey to show him the contents of his pockets, warning him that if he rofusod he would be searched by the police. Carey for some time pretended to comply, but was in reality only arranging things whioh he had in his pockets. Seeing this, a servant was despatched for a cbnstable, and a few minutes later Sergeant McAardle appeared upon the scene. Carey having been arrested, the contents of his pockets were laid bare, and a curious collection they made, Like Hans Breitmann, it appeared that "vereefer he'd peenhe'd left nodings pehint." He - had about a dozen purses, a similar number of pipes and pocket knives, combs, and, what was of still greater importance, • ; several skeleton keys. Under the circumstances Carey, as a matter of course, was provided with free quarters in the look-up. Further inquiries on the part' of the police proved that Carey had several aliases,'the one by which he was best known being James M. Kelly.. It is worth noting that two of the female servants in Mr Elkin's employ, who consulted Mrs Baldwin during her stay in this town were informed'that there would lie a robbery in the house. Although not of a superstitious disposition, the prediction had troubled the members of the household not a little,. Perhaps tho

affair we have related will rolieve their minds..

■ Carey "was brought up in the Resident Magistrate'sJCourt before Mr Stratford ,R. M. this morning, and remanded till 10 a.m. tomorrow,