An Olympian Ordeal

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    ‘An audacious burglary was committed in the Market-place, Oakham, early on Wednesday morning, a plate glass window of the establishment of Miss Payne, jeweller, etc., being broken, and a quantity of watches, rings, brooches etc, being abstracted.  Thanks however, to the promptitude with which the police were warned by the discoverer of the occurrence, and the equally prompt action of the police the perpetrator was in a few hours run to ground with the whole of the property he had purloined in his possession.  About 4 o’clock on Wednesday morning, Mr. Thomas Barfield and Mr H.S. Dexter were going on duty at the Post-office, and in High-street they met a man who, while his appearance occasioned no suspicion, they made a “mental note” of, doubtless because of his being in the street at that time of the morning.  At Mr. Makin’s corner, Mr. Barfield turned into the Market-place with the object of proceeding to the Post-master’s residence, and on passing Miss Payne’s shop, situated at the corner of a block of buildings, which except for the front part nearer High-street is non residential (including the burgled premises) he noticed that the large plate glass window opposite the School House had been smashed, and articles of jewellery scattered over the pavement.  He at once proceeded to the police station and informed the Chief Constable, and Mr. Wilson, together with Inspector Golder and other police officers were quickly on the spot.  An iron bar about two feet long was lying not far from the window, which had evidently had three blows struck at it, before a hole sufficiently large had been made to get at the contents.  The Chief Constable having obtained a description of the man the postmen met in High-street, at once dispatched constables in various directions in pursuit.  P.c. Watson, stationed at Langham, cycled along the Melton-road and on reaching the Burton-road railway bridge at Melton Mowbray, he came up with a man answering the description given. He at once apprehended the man, and conveyed him to the prison in Norman-street, where he was searched under the supervision of Superintendent Hinman.  On him was found eight watches, thirty four gold rings, twenty six silver rings, and a quantity of other gold and silver jewellery, such as brooches, etc..  The man gave the name of William Bentley, a labourer of Leeds and twenty-six years of age.  He was brought to Oakham by P.c. Watson, and brought before D. N. Royce Esq., and remanded until yesterday (Friday).    The accused was again brought up yesterday, and was committed to take his trial at the Quarter Sessions.  P.c. Watson stated that when he arrested the accused at Melton, and told him who he was he said, “Oh yes: I know what you want: I have got the stuff with me.”  On the way to Oakham, the prisoner said, “I have thrown some trays away,” and he subsequently pointed out a small spinney on the roadside to witness where the jewel trays were found.’