AN ARMED BURGLAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2113, 23 January 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN ARMED BURGLAR.

Some extraordinary disclosures have been made in connection with the capture of the armed burglar, John Sturgess, at Birchfield, by Police-Constable Clay, of the Staffordshire county police force. Sturgess was surprised as he was in the act of breaking into Trinity House, Birchfield, the residence of Mr Fulford. He was trying to slink away unobserved, when Clay gave chase and overtook him. There was a severe struggle the burglar throwing away a bag he was carrying, and facing the officer with determination. Sturgess made strenuous efforts during the struggle to get his hand in his pocket which contained a six-chambered revolver fully loaded, but the policeman was too wary for him, and held him safely till assistance arrived, when the desperado was conveyed, still struggling hard, to the police station, It has transpired that the revolver which the man presumably tried to use was part of the proceeds of a burglary which Sturgess himself committed only an hour or so before. On Sturgess's house being searched the case assumed graver proportions. A laige amount of stolen property and a number of pawntickets— believed to be the proceeds of other burglaries committed by Sturges3— were found in the house. Amoug the articles are a double-handed electio cup bearing the monogram F.U., a teapot with stag couchant, a cup witn a stag's head and a monogram which has been erased, a valuable electro cigar stand, curiously embossed with figures, an engraved tea caddy with female figures, on the lid ; a biscuit or cake basket, • oval shape, with movable handle, a gilt timepiece, with enamelled dial with blue figures supported by figure illustrating music ; an ormolu inkstand, supported by three metal pelicans ; a number of spoons, knives, electro prongs, some ,of tbem with the engraved initials 11 T. J. \V." a silver snuff-box, with representation of a drinking scene in relief on the lid, a set of valuable diamond studs, value £50. At the house in Trinity road, Birchfield, where the prisoner was first seen by the policeman, a wedding had lately taken place, and it is supposed the prisoner was aware of this fact, and had designs on the large quantity of valuable wedding presents standing in the drawing room. It is a singular fact that some of the articles found in Sturgess's house have been identified as having been stolen from the house of Mr Davenport, Birchfield road, nearly two and a halt years ago, and it may also be mentioned that about ten months since Mr Davenport's house was again broken into byaomeneraon unknown, immediately after a wedding had taken place there. It is therefore surmised that Sturgess made it his business to watch houses where he knew weddings had taken place with an eye to valuables in the chape of wedding presents. Of Sourgess's habits not much is known. The police have no doubt that for years be has been carrying on by the cleverest strategy the cracksman's craft, and concealing his crime under a respectable exterior. He used to live in the Villa road, and passed as a builder and contractor. The neighbours ' eem to have had no suspicion whatever that he was more of a burglar than a builder, although he did not appear to be actively employed in any business. Sturgess was careful not to excite suspicion by carrying a bag with him to remove his "swag."

The gamekeeper, Robert Anderson, who eloped some time ago with the young heiress, Miss Nellie Ridge way, from the residence of her guardians, Mr and Mrs Gathorne Hardy, at Lochgair house, Argyllshire, was brought before Sheriff Campion at Inverary on Thursday, November 19th, at the instance of the Parochial Board of Glossary, on a oharge of deserting his wife and children. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to, 30 days' imprisonment. It is not known whether any criminal charge will be brought against him.