A POLICE RAID

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 122, 17 February 1920, Page 7

A POLICE RAID

PIMLICO SENSATION DETECTIVE SHOT BY.AUSTRALIAN * (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright ; London, February 15. Thren detectives raided a house in Pirnlico, occupied by an Australian military police corporal, where it was believed the proceeds of recent big burglaries wero concealed. The Australian fired a revolver at the detectives, but owing to tlio mechanism jamming only one shot was effective. The bullet struck Detective- : Sergeant Coo]>er in the right breast, and i came out at the shoulder. The wound is not serious. The Australian was ar- ; rested, witii another occupant. The house had been under observation : for several days. The police forced, an ' entrv at two o'clock on Sunday morning. : While in the passage tlio Australian do- -i rounded their business. They replied: : "Wo intend to search the premises." ; Thev heard the revolver click iu tho i darkness as it misfired, and then a shot ! ran? out. Tho Australian, when over- . powered and arrested, shouted: "It's all : a mistake." ■> •■- _ ■' The police are reticent regarding, the •■ contents of the premises, but tho.y indicate that there will bo sensational do- ; velopments, involving the arrest of others who used the premises.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' (Rec. February 16, 8.40 p.m.) London, February 15._ The Australian arrested at Pimlico is. Corporal King. He was awaiting a pass- : aie to Australia, and will be charged with attempted murder—Aus.-N.Z. Cable , Assn. THOUGHT POLICE WERE BURGLARS. (I!ec. February 17, 0.25 a.m.) : London, February IG. Major Jarvie, Australian Assistant Pro- '■ vost Marshal, gives Corporal King a most excellent character. He 6erved ; with the Fourth Battalion throughout , the war. Apparently he shot Cooper believing that the police wero burglars.-?'; Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ! FURTHER DETAILS OF AFFAIR.- j; (Rec, February 1.7, 1.20 a.m.) ';■ London, February 16. When the police arrived at No. 8 More ! ton Place they aroused an unmarried woman named* Harvey, who, believing , they were burglars, ran to the room ■ where King and his wife were sleeping. ; King picked up a pistol and ran to tho ; front door to see what was tho matter. The police forced the door. King warn- ; cd -them that unless they .showed their ■ authority ho would shoot, but Cooper ! rushed on King, who fired. The rest p£ j the detectives then overpowered King, \ and took him to tho Gerald Road police' i station. '

In the meanwhile, the man and woman 1 \ whom the police were really seeking;; were aroused. ■ The police caught the-' ; woman and took her to the station with : King. The man successfully hid him- i sell' in a cupboard in a neighbouring! • room, where ho terrified a womau into •' silence until the police wore gone. ; Curiously enough tho man did not attempt to escape, but to hia j room, barricaded tho door,' and went to sleep again. Ho was taken by tho polico ' later in the morning. Two other members of tho gang arrived duriug tho afternoon. Instead of finding their comrade they found the polico in posses- ; eion, and were arrested. Major Jarvio, who communicated to the . police tho regrets of Australian Headquarters at Detective Cooper's wound, says that King is a farmer, a teetotaller, and a man with a splendid character. Ho is over six feet high,- and met and . married his wife while in France.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.