BURGLARS AT THORNDON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4422, 18 May 1893, Page 2

BURGLARS AT THORNDON.

Mr Geo. Beetham has a lively Experience. There is no doubt whatever that at the present lime Wellington is the j resting-place of a very undesirable I olaas. The depression in Australia has cased an exodus from that part of the world, and (sayß tho Post) Nov Zealand has received the greater number of those who have taken flight from the other colonies, Many of the recent additions to our palliation are of the criminal clues, and the police in out large towns, but more especially those in Wellington, state that their work bos, in consequence, considerably in- ' creased of late. During the past few weeks quite a largo number of petty larcenies have been brought to light, and now we have to report that tha enterprising burglar has been at work in the Tborndon district during the past few nights. Between 12 and 1 o'clock on Monday night the nursemaid at the Hon. C. J. Johnston's residence insfobson street was startled at fo|!pgaman endeavouring to make his way into her room on tho upper floor. Without a moment's hesitation, however, sha culled out for help, and the fellow decamped,maldng his way to the ground by sliding down one of the.,verandah posts, The whole houße was of course alarmed by tho girl's cries, and a search of the grounds was made, but not a trace of him could be found. He bad evidently climbed nponoofthe posts to the balcony, on to whioh the nursemaid's room opens, A more startling experience, however, was that of Mr Geo. Beetham, who lives in Moturoa-street, not very many yards away from the Hon.. 0. J. Joliuaton's reßid< n< e. At twpnty minutes past twelve last night Mrs Beetham wasawakmed by a noise in her husband's drcfising-twrwft'ftS' ll " >, opens on to a aroused her husband, who, however, concluded that the noise heard was made by tho window-blind flapping. In order to satisfy her ho lit a candle, made his way into the dressing-room! and was astonished to find a man without coat and hat standing at the table, helping himself to some jewellery that had been placed there only an hour or so previously. The burglar, who also bod a light was bo engrossed in bis work that ho did not notice Mr Beetham approach, and it was only when that gentloman pounced upon him that he became aware of bis danger. The fellow made a dash for thewindow.whieh, it appears, Mr Beetham had been in the habit of leaving open for ventilation. Mr Beetham, howeter, closed with him, and a " rough and tumble " ensued. The intruder, a description of whom has been given to tho police, was as slippery as an eel, and despite alt efforts, Mr Beetham could not bold him. The burglar managed to scramble back en to the balcony, and slide down a post. In the struggle the lightß vveut out, but Mr Beetham ia confident that he could identify him even in a crowd. No violence was used by the man, who is believed to be a sailor, and it is somewhat singular that he refrained from opening his mouth, When Mr Beetham ' went into the room the burglar had in his hand a valuable gold watch and a jewellery tho struggto both articles were wrested from him, and so far as is known nothing waß taken away. When Mrs Beetham found that a burglar was m the house she gave the alarm, and the Borvante.were aroused, but when assistance was ready tho man was making his escape. A telepbonio message wbb promptly sent to the police, and a constable was in ■ tho bouse ten minutes after tho fellow bad decamped. The grounds were searched, but not a trace of him wasi found.