A Youthful Burglar. (Daily Telegraph - Napier, 2 November 1888)
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Summary: A Youthful Burglar. (Daily Telegraph - Napier, 2 November 1888)
On 2 November 1888, a young man named Thomas Gleeson, also known as Thorea Thomson, was brought before the Police Court in Invercargill, New Zealand, facing charges related to a burglary that occurred on 21 October. Gleeson, an 18-year-old originally from Auckland, was accused of breaking into a shop in Dunedin and stealing various items including jewelry and clothing. Police Sergeant-Major Ramsay requested a remand to Dunedin, which was granted, as Gleeson was believed to have committed multiple robberies across Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Sergeant-Major Ramsay had acted on a tip-off that Gleeson, who was suspected of attempting to evade capture, was making his way to the Bluff to board a ship to Melbourne. After tracking Gleeson’s arrival on the Clinton train, Ramsay found him residing at the Railway Hotel in Invercargill. During a search of his room, the officer discovered an iron trunk filled with stolen goods. Although Gleeson initially denied owning any portmanteaux, a search under the bed revealed a concealed leather trunk, which he eventually admitted was his. The police seized a range of goods valued at approximately £40, which included items such as clothing, jewelry, and various firearms. Identifying some of the goods as stolen from Dunedin and Christchurch, Sergeant-Major Ramsay coordinated with Constable Madden, who arrived from Dunedin to identify the stolen property. Further investigation revealed that Gleeson had been in possession of an extensive and varied collection of stolen items. Among these were 14 watches, a unique jeweled dagger, guns, pocket knives, chains, rings, and additional miscellaneous items including cosmetics and women's clothing, suggesting that he had been disguising himself as a woman. The peculiar nature of his belongings led authorities to believe he had been masquerading while committing his crimes. With all the stolen property accounted for, Gleeson was transported by express back to Dunedin that morning under the guard of Constable Madden, as the police proceeded with the investigation into his burglaries, which had alarmed multiple cities.
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