FLYING CAR FIRED ON

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 11

FLYING CAR FIRED ON

Chase at 70 Miles an Hour Revolver shots fired by Acting Sergeant Hogan, Caboolture, proved ineffective to stop alleged burglars travelling in a motor-car at high speed toward Brisbane early on the morning of December 11, and C. 1.8. detectives who gave chase nearer the city also lost the car when they were delayed by horse which walked across the road. At 3.20 o’clock in the morning Mr. C. Metcalfe, the officer on duty at the Beerwah Railway Station, heard suspicious sounds coming from Mr. C. J. Whitmee’s general store, about 100 yards from the station, and across (he road. He saw a light in the shop, and soon afterward saw two men walk out with suitcases. They placed these in a sedan car standing outside the building, and drove rapidly away in the direction of Brisbane. He at once communciated with the Landsborough police, but it was too late for them to intercept the car, and the news was flashed from Landsborough to Caboolture. Acting Sergeant Hogan, of that station, immediately armed himself with a revolver and went out on to the main road to try to stop the car. Sergeant Fires. Shortly after 5 o’clock a car came in sight, and the acting sergeant stepped into the middle of the road. The driver did not respond to his signals, however, and almost drove '©ver him when the car sped past at fully 60 miles per hour. The sergeant then drew, his revolver and fired at the car with the hope of bursting the tires, but without success. In the meantime word had been sent to the Criminal Investigation Branch headquarters in Brisbane, and a police car driven by Plain-clothes Constable E. McGrath, who was accompanied by Plain-clothes Constable H. Aspinall, went to Petrie in the hope of meeting the fleeing car. A car travelling at high speed passed the police car as it was approaching Chermsid'e. As it answered to the description of the wanted car, the detectives immediately turned their car’end gave chase. 70 Miles an Hour. At times the following car was travelling at 70 miles an hour, and was slowly overtaking the other. It was almost within striking distance as Kedron was neared, when a horse walked on to the roadway between the two cars. The C. 1.8. car was forced to slow down considerably, and before speed eould be gained again the other car had disappeared. Mr. Whitmee and the Landsborough police examined the store, and it was found that the thieves had forced the front door and had taken two suitcases, containing mostly men’s clothing, with a number of razors of different kinds, and fancy goods. Until he had gone over his stock Mr. Whitmee was unable to state accurately the value of the goods stolen. The premises have attracted considerable attention from burglars, and have been successfully entered four times in the last two years. Ah attempt was made on another occasion also.