BURGLARS FIRE ON POLICE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 6

BURGLARS FIRE ON POLICE

A WANGANUI SENSATION CONSTABLES’ PLUCKY FIGHT TWO MEN ARRESTED By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, May 9. A burglary sensation occurred here last evening at Thomson's grocery shop, Victoria Avenue, resulting in the arrest of two men found on the premises after a number of shots had been fired by the burglars at the police from revolvers. It appears that, being informed that the back door of the shop was open, Mr. Thomson communicated with the police, and Constables Roger, Wilson, and O'Donoghue, accompanied by Thomson and the latter’s brother, visited tho shop at 7 o’clock. Constable O’Donoghue was posted at the back, Thomson and Constable Wilson entering by the front door, Wilson flashed an electric torch on two mon who were seen standing behind the counter, each with a revolver. "Hands up, or I’ll shoot," said one. Constable Wilson immediately switched the light off and ducked behind a weighing scales, while Thomson sought refuge behind a cash register. The burglars dashed for the back door, Wilson in pursuit. At the back door one of the burglars confronted by Constable O’Donoghue, exclaimed. "I'll shoot!" O'Donoghue, undaunted. went straight at his man, who fired three shots, luckily without hitting O'Donoghue. The man broke away from the constable’s clutch, and raced to the front of the shop. He dived headlong through the glass /panel door into the street, where he was seized by tho Thomson brothers. He fired another shot, but was quickly overpowered with Constable O’Donoghue’s aid. In the meanwhile itho other burglar had found his exit from the shop impeded by falling cases, but with levelled revolver he warned Constable Wilson to stand off. The constable dived at the man, who fired, the bullet grazing Wilson's finger and going through the flap of his coat within a couple of inches of the heart. Wilson grabbed the burglar, and threw him, and the latter gave in, saying: "All right. I’ll go.” Both men were taken to the police station.

An investigation showed that Z'G in stamps and some silver had been taken from the cash register. Efforts 'had been made to force the safe. A pair of gloves was also found. The accused were staying at an hotel under the names of Roes and Gilmour. When arrested they gave the names of Donovan and Bell. A search of their belongings disclosed bunches of keys, a chisel, a rope, a screwdriver, a skeleton key, and an electric torch. Donovan’s private effects included a military discharge and two war service medals.

The revolvers were seven-chambered, and had been fully loaded. As a sequel to last night’s sensation, Robert Gilmour Allen and Edward Donovan were charged at the Magistrate’s Court this morning with breaking, entering, and theft, arid attempting to murder Constables O'Donoghue and Wilson and John Alexander Thomson. A remand was granted until next Monday to enable the police to make inquiries. The tools found in the possession of accused are reported to have been stolen from a local plumber.