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Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1926, Page 1

GARAGE RAID DRAMA. LONDON, July 20. One man was shot dead and another severely wounded at Eltham, S.E., at 3 a.m. yesterday, when a garage proprietor and his assistant surprised two men who, it is alleged, were about to rob the premises, chased them, and captured them. The dead man is James Albert, aged 28, of Bailey’splace, Bermondsey, S.E. The other, Charles, Follen, aged 25, of Long-lane; Bermondsey, was shot in the chest and is in a. dangerdus condition in Lewisham Hospital. Mr Arthur- Cuthbert Brodio, the proprietor of the Ace Garage, on the Sidcup road, was sleeping on the premises with an assistant, Mr George William Taylor. Both are young men.

The garage, which is in rather an isolated position, !has been broken into three times within the last 18 months and a large quantity of tyres and other motor accessories stolen. Since the last burglary, about six weeks ago, Mr Brodio and Lis assistant have slept there.

At 2.45 a.m. Mr Brodie was awakened by the smashing of a window and discovered that a man was in the garage. On being challenged, the man threw something at Mr Brodie, who fired an automatic pistol in the direction from which the missile came.

The man jumped back through the window and on rushing out of the garage Mr Brodie and bis assistant sawtwo men running down the road in the direction -of Mottinghain. They gave chase and Mr Brodie stopped Follen. Follen was found to have a- bullet wound in the clicst-.

Mr Taylor caught the other man, who has since been identified as Albert, as be was climbing over a fence. There was a struggle during which a rifle which slr Taylor was carrying went off. . Albert fell with a bullet wound in the chest and died almost at once.

The police were summoned, and they found that Follen was in a serious condition. He was removed to the Lewisham hospital. A motor-car, which has been identified as one stolen from the yard of Mr Thomas Simons, a contractor, of Birchwood. St. Mary Cray, was found near the garage. Mr Simons stated yesterday that his premises had been broken into three times in the hist three years and two motor-cars stolen.

Mr Brodie and .Mr Taylor went with the police to Eltham police station. They stayed there during the day, and in the evening returned to the garage. Thev afterwards went away in a motorcar.