Burglar caught in berry bush

A man who broke into a Wakamarina sawmill appears in court, this week 110 years ago,aswetakea flick through the archives. From the Marlborough Express, May 5, 1914:

A man named George Ross, who was arrested by Constable Doggett at the Wakamarina sawmill, pleaded guilty before Messrs W. H. Smith and W. H. Orsman, Justices of the Peace, at Havelock yesterday, to a charge of breaking and entering.

The circumstances were explained by Sergeant Hanson. On the night of April 28th, Ross, who had been staying at the Canvastown Hotel, as a boarder, broke into the store-room behind the hotel and stole 24 bottles of stout, and, repeating the adventure the following night he took out 14 bottles of stout.

C. Satherley, the licensee, and Edward

Bourke, a traveller, watched the accused’s movements on the next night, and in the small hours saw him striking matches’ and searching for something on an adjoining section, where among some blackberry bushes Mr Satherley found a bottle of stout during the previous day, and some footprints which corresponded with boots worn by Ross.

The accused was accosted, but denied the accusation, and the police were communicated with. Only two bottles of stout were recovered.

Ross, who made a full admission to the police, was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.

ALSO IN THE NEWSPAPER

It was reported to the police this morning that some hoodlums broke into the Springlands school last evening.

In addition to breaking the lock, blackboards were interfered with, outhouses rendered unfit for use, and obscenities scribbled on the doors.

The committee have a fair idea as to the identity of the offenders, and have no intention of sparing them once their evidence is complete.

Nothing short of a prompt and ample apology is likely to prevent prosecution.