BURGLAR CAPTURED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1490, 12 July 1912, Page 5

BURGLAR CAPTURED.

;| CITY-PREMISES ENTERED.

A-SHARP ENCOUNTER,

SHOP IN CHAOS.

/'TWO-OTHER MEN ESCAPE,

There was a flutter of excitement oil Lamblon Quay just boforo midnight iast nigb-t, when it broamo known, that the premises' of Messrs. Charles Hill and Soils, the well-known hatters and mercers, had bowi broken into, ami that ono of the law-breakers hud boon captured, redhnuded. In tlio cour.se of liis duties, Constable J. Thompson was trying tho doors of tho business places along tlio western fiido of Lnmbton Quay, when ho discovered the street door of Messrs. Hill and Sons' shop ajar. Ho promptly entered, and hearing a slight scuffle of foot, ho eeizod a man. who was standing just inside the door.

"I Know When I'm Beat!" • Closing with him, the constable- eot •about getting hie man out on to the street in onlor that, ho, might summon, assistance to catch two others whom ho heard scurrying for safety in tho gloom at tho back of tlio shop. The captured man,"evidently thinking- that there was still a ehanco to escape if tlio constable relaxed his grip at u ll, said, "It's nil right; I know when I'm beat!" But Constable; Thompson;, taking no chances, hustled his limn through tho door out oil to the pavement, and after u btmgglo, iu which the man showed fight, pinned him to tho ground and handcufl'ed him. He then blow his whistle for police aid. In, the struggle the constable tried to Handcuff the limn round ono 01 the verandah poles, in order that ho could Rive chase alter the others, who had mad* their exit from tho roar. Unable to do this, ho hung on until Constable Angusarrived, when tho latter took charge of tho captive, whilo Constable 1 Thompson and borgoant Kelly, who was'soon on th« scene, searched the premises. ■ i

Great Disorder. .■:■■,■• Messrs. Hill and Sons is avcrv wellordered shop, but .tho sight which pro, sonted itself when tiio lights were turned up was ono of great disorder. Coats, eox, hats, caps, and . collars lay strewn •about tho (loors, boxes lmd been knocked askew, and bundles of clothing had been knocked over. It is assumed that some or these goods was tho "swag" which the others had dropped on scenting trouble in front of the shop, nnd that other gooda. had been knocked ovor by tho men in racing for liberty. The drawoT'o'f'the cashier s desk, situated in the centre of Hie shop, had been pulled'out, nnd (lie wooden till, empty, was found on top of- tho desk. No attempt had evidently Wn made to touch tho heavy safo in the office nt the back of tho shop. . Mr. Chas.Jlill, senior, was communicated with by toiupTiono, but could not say if any cash had been left in the till at closing time (G p.m.).

. Escaped Over the Terrace. After about ten minutes' time Dc)cc« lives Lewis and Cameron araivod on the socno, and an investigation of tho premises was made, but none of tho ether delinquents could bo found. They 'had first tried to escape by means ot a window 111 tho back office, but finding that barred had re-entered tho shop, climbed the , atairs, and made their way out by one • of the back windows.

\ A Big Drop, Sergeant- Kelly disonvcred one windoif opan, and was positive that tho burglars must have made their way out by it. Aβ there is a sheer drop to the backyard of about 25ft., lie opined that they hi'Sulrt have been hurt in. dropping such a: di*. tanco to the around, but a thorough search of tho alleyways nnd the banks (of 1 AWllingtoii Terrace) behind did not locate thorn.

Track of Two Men. . Subsequently constables with) lanterns searched tho bauk, and found the track of two men loading along the face of tlio bank, then np ou to tho Terrace. Them was ono spot which looked as if one of thorn had Inid down (d secrete himself for a time. The only other exit tho men. could liavo made (as ■ tho back door was locked) was 'from a window on tho stairs, whioh was found to be about three inches open, and it seemed improbable- that in'their haste the men would turn round'to close the window' behind them. A moderately easy descont on to tho roof of tho back oflice and down to tho ground over n pile of oases, presented itself. Two new cape wore found in the backyard. , .. ■

Tho Captured Man. The man taken by Constable Ttiomp« son was Martin Tior, who had not lontf been out of prison. Ho is a young man of about. 30 years of ago, of 'medium' height,' clean shaven, pale complexion, and black hair. When captured, he was wearing a now overcoat and hat. About three months a|jo ho was liberated from gaol, after serving two years' imprisonment, having been convicted for breaking and entering the promises of Mr. E. I'earce, bootmaker, of Mr. John E. Linlli. ber?, of Cuba Street, and n- grocer's shop at Brooklyn. On that occasion ho was apprehended on a tromcar by Detectives hewis and Hawle, whilst carrying a Mclcful of boots. Tier will be brought before tine Stipendiary Ifasistrata this morning, charged with 'unlawfully entering the pro. mises of Messrs. nill and Sons. It was impossible for the police to ascertain Inst night if anything had boon stolen. Pro if* is duo to Constable. Thompson for his. sin art' capture.