LIMERICK, IRELAND – In an incident that has left the residents of Limerick astonished, a private in the Yorkshire Light Infantry, John Roberts, found himself in the dock before Mr John Guinane, Justice of the Peace, facing charges of vandalizing the large plate glass window of Messrs. Cannock and Co.’s store on George Street. This startling event unfolded on a fateful Monday night at approximately 11:15 p.m.

Eyewitnesses reported that Roberts was spotted by a vigilant police patrol as he ruthlessly smashed the window using a stone. What makes this incident all the more perplexing is Roberts’s rather peculiar behaviour after committing the act. Instead of attempting to flee, he patiently waited for the arrival of Constables O’Gorman and Richardson, making an astonishing declaration that he had committed a crime in London and was voluntarily surrendering himself to the authorities.

The damage inflicted upon the prominent George Street store is estimated to be a hefty £12 10s. Despite Roberts’s claim about a prior transgression in London, the local constabulary has expressed scepticism and is not giving much credence to his statement. The motive behind this peculiar act remains a mystery, leaving both law enforcement and the public perplexed.

Roberts, who stands accused of this wanton act of vandalism, has been remanded in custody pending further investigation into the incident. The authorities are expected to delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the case, including Roberts’s unanticipated surrender and the veracity of his claims regarding a previous crime committed in London.

The episode has left the community in Limerick in a state of shock and bewilderment. The large plate glass window, now shattered, had been a prominent feature of George Street, adorning the storefront of Messrs. Cannock and Co.’s store for years. Local residents and passersby are grappling with the unusual turn of events and eagerly await the unfolding of further details as the investigation proceeds.

As Limerick grapples with this perplexing incident, the story of John Roberts and the shattered window on George Street continues to captivate the public’s imagination. It remains to be seen what additional information will come to light and whether Roberts’s claims of a London crime will be substantiated. The people of Limerick, like the rest of the world, are left to ponder the mystery that has taken hold of their community.

Northants Evening Telegraph – Wednesday 08 January 1902