80 MILES AN HOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1927, Page 4

80 MILES AN HOUR

ARRESTS AT AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND, Aug. 0

A thrilling motor chase, in which it is alleged a speed of nearly 80 miles an hour, was attained, had a sequel in the 1 A>l ice Court to-day when Ilia Beatrice Wills (27), who was smartly dressed and wore an expensive fur coat, stood alongside Thos Herbert Skinner (2i), who was equally well-dressed. P ” were charged with breaking and entering the sliop ot Muriel Townsend at Epsom last- night and stealing glass bottles and chocolates of a total value of i‘9 10s.

It- appears that Constable Butler while on duty in Khyber Pass, at hall past one this morning noticed a worn a i in a motor-car. Suddenly a young man rushed from the shop doorway across the road, and the ear ■

away. Circumstances were suspicious so the constable determined to enquire further into the strange occurrence. Constable Butler gave clmse on the rear of a tramway employee’s motorcycle. The motor-ear travelled at a fast pace down the Dominion road, and soon left the motor-cycle far behind. However. Defective Allan and Acting-Detective Kellv were near the end of Dominion road when they lieaiil ihe drone of a racing motor-car some distance away. It approached them at a vapid speed and they went out into the middle of the road to compel it- to stop. The ear did not attempt to .scop or even slow down, in fact its speed was accelerated, and it charged the two detectives, who had to rush to the side of the roadway to save being knocked down. Just at that moment Mr A. R. Ellis, who happened to be out late with his car. drove along. Both detectives got in his car and Mr Ellis immediately “stepped on the gas” and went off in hot pursuit of the other speeding ear. Along the concrete roads the pursuing car attained a speed of nearly eighty miles per hour. Gradually tile lead was reduced, and by the time the corner of Alt. Albert and Dominion roads was reached the front ear was in sight. So dose were the detectives to the othe'* car that they hailed the man and woin.-.t ami ordered them to stop, lnft til'.' continued at full speed lor three miles, both ears racing with not more than a f< w yards separating them. “Just when we had made up o'" minds to ram the ear from the rear.” sr.-tl Mr Ellis to a reporter, “the car we were chasing turned down a .road which we knew was a blind road. '1 he woman and the man seeing that they were trapped, both got out as fast as

they could anil ran int > a vacant section. Tbe woman bid in some grass and was shortly afterwards caught, out tiro man succeeded hi getting away, hut .shortly after four o’clock this morning a man, who is .alleged to have been tho runaway, was found in bed in a house in East Street. Newt m. and was taken into custody. Acting-Detective Kelly, who puixu.d the car with Detective Allan and Constable Butler, fell off the running hoard as the pursuing car dashed ron'd i corner and rrroived injuries to bis ■inn and leg. U‘te-tive-Sergr int Ke'ly. at the Court Ibis morning, outlin’ d the story of the chase. Air Dickson, who r-pvear. d for • - ■ used, objected t> the telling of the dory, but Air p. K. Hunt. M.M.. he'd that ii bad a bearing on the quest mi of bail. Mr .Hunt: Do you apply for bail ? Air Dickson: A'cs. .Mr Hunt: A Vo! 1, 1 re IV -■ it. Mr Dickson : But. you can't do lb t. Air Hunt: Oh. yes 1 ran; it is a serious charge. Mr Dickson persisted ill bis •- lion on the woman’s behalf. He said she had Tin explanation to make and a business in the City depended upon her. “The Magistrate remained unmoved and remanded both accused in custody until next week.