STRUGGLE IN DARK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 16

STRUGGLE IN DARK

REAL LIFE "THRILLER"

SCOTLAND YARD METHODS

tßy Air Mall, from ••The Post's" London Representative.)

LONDON, November 28.

A violent struggle in the dark between a police inspector and two men alleged to be shop-breakers carrying explosives was described in court at Stratford.

James Robertson, aged 34, John Fairley, aged 33, of Dykemuir Street, Springburn, Glasgow, and James Albert Paynter, aged 24, of Fourth Avenue, Manor Park, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of West and Moulton, Ltd., at Cranbrook Road, Ilford, being in possession of housebreaking implements by night, and being in possession of explosives —8| sticks of gelignite and six detonators. Mr. C. J. M. Gwatkin, prosecuting, said Chief Inspector Parker and other officers saw Paynter go to the premises. He was joined by the other two. They got over a wall and entered the premises through a fanlight. Inspector Parker also got over the wall, went up the fire escape, and got into the building, and Inspector Green and Detective-Sergeant Green got into a room on the first floor, and saw the men in an office tampering with the safe. The men took off their coats and put on the table a jemmy and an electric torch. They were then detained. Among the things found on them were a piece of soap, used to "seal up" gelignite, a fuse, and a wooden knitting needle, used to ram in explosives. Chief Inspector Parker, in evidence, said that Fairley said, "Be careful of my jacket. You will find some detonators in my pocket." Robertson said: "My coat is lying by the door. Be careful of that, too. There are eight and a half sticks of gelignite there." TRUNCHEON USED. Detective-Inspector Greeno, of Scotland Yard, said when thp men saw him he heard Robertson say, "The watchman. 'Do him!" Fairley and Paynter rushed at him. He shouted, "We are police officers," and closed with Fairley and Paynter, and they struggled violently in the dark. He was forced to use a truncheon, and got the two men on the floor. He kept them on the floor. Fairley said, "All right, I have had enough. I have some dangerous explosives in my pocket—-detonators. They are liable to go off if they get knocked." Witness replied, "Keep quiet and there will be no danger." j When Fairley, from the dock, suggested to an expert witness that it was dangerous to carry gelignite in the pocket, he replied: "It has been known to go> off through a man slipping and striking a stone." When Detective-Sergeant Green gave evidence, Robertson asked: "Can you tell me how you got into the premises?" Mr. Gwatkin objected, saying that it might not be in the public interest to disclose how Scotland Yard did its work.

The question was not answered. The three men were committed for trial at the Old Bailey,

Robertson, who asked for legal aid, was told that he must make the application elsewhere.