CHASE OF SYDNEY MOTOR THIEF,

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1920, Page 4

CHASE OF SYDNEY MOTOR THIEF,

CONSTABLE’S SENSATIONAL EXPLOIT.

SYDNEY, Sept. 15. Thefts of motorcars left standing in the street have been very frequent in recent months and many criticisms have been levelled at the overworked police. A constable’s exploit on Saturday afternoon has done a. .good deal to remove the stigma from his brethren. Mr Cosman Jones left liis new limousine standing in the street in Darlinghurst, while he went into a house: While sitting at the window upstairs he heard his car start, and, leaning out, saw it being driven away. He went downstairs and after the thief, hotfoot. As it turned into the traffic of King’s Cross, it slowed up, and he nearly reached it. A young constable was standing at a corner, and Mr Jones rushed up to him. and told him about it, pointing to the disappearing limousine. The constable acted “like greased'lightning,” as Mr Jones afterwards said. He jumped into the traffic- and stopped the first motor-car that came along. It proved, curiously enough, to be the private car of Air Storey, the Labour Premier of New South AVales, and it was driven hv the Premier’s son, a returned soldier, who was taking out two ladies for an airing. The constable piled Mr Jones into the back of the ear with the astonished ladies, jumped on to the footboard and told the driver to “get after that big car,” which' by now was getting tip speed down a side street. Young Storey put on all speed, but the limousine was now going at a great pace. After going about half a mile the Premier’s car overhauled the thief, when within shouting distance the constable ordered him to stop. He went faster than ever. The two cars passed through crowded Oxford street at a terrific pace. Interested crowds began to race after them on foot. Then, as they turned i into the quieter Flinders street, tho( consable drew his revolver and fired two shots high over, the limousine. It did not slacken speed. The pace, the policeman, and the revolver together had terrified the ladies in Mr Storey’s car, and they screamed shrilly when the shots were fired. But young Storey tried for more pace—and got it. Gradually the Premier’s car overhauled the limousine, until they were racing side by side. The young constable pouched his revolver, waited a moment, and then took a full leap at the other car. He landed with the precision and confidence of a cat on the limousine’s footboard, levelled his revolver at the thief, and the latter stopped the limousine and surrendered. It was a most exciting incident, and the constable, of course, is a public hero. He is Cecil Elliott, a returned soldier, and only 22 years old.