A ROMANCE OF CRIME.

Dunstan Times, Issue 953, 23 July 1880, Page 3

A ROMANCE OF CRIME.

—*. A strange story ernes from Constantinople. A few nights ago, an runs the version of the affair given in a German paper, three robbers, armed to the teeth, broke into the house of a Prussian living in Constantinople. Threatening to murder him forthwith if he resisted, they compelled the owner to submit to being bound, and then demanded from him bis money and valuables. The Prussian at once gave up his gold watch and some L 4 which he had in his pockets ; but this sma 1 ! booty did not satisfy the robbers. Again they threatened death, and finally obliged the bound and helpless man to tell them where they would find the key of his business safe This safe happened to be in a room on the third floor at the top of the house, and thither the three robbers, having obtained possession of the key, hastened, leaving the owner bound aud threatening to return and shoot him if he called for assistance. But as they went upstairs, his wife, who had been watching what was taking place from another room, slipped quietly in aud cut the bonds of her husband. Arming themselves with revolvers the pair crept quietly up the stairs, came upon the robbers absorbed in divided among themselves the contents of the safe, and without a word shot down two of them. The other threw down his weapon and begged for mercy. Turning the tables upon him, the Prussian bound liis late assailant fast, and, leaving his wife to watch over him with a loaded revolver in her hand, hastened to the nearest zaptieh station. There he found the officer in charge absent, and on enquiry for a subofficer was told that both of the latter were also away. Thereupon the Prussian asked four of the men to accompany him to his house and take the bound burglar into custody. Arrived in the room where the two men had been shot, the zaptiehs looked at the two corpses, looked at the prisoner, and recognised in the former the two sub-officers and in the latter the officer of their own guard,