BRUTAL CRIME
M URDERED' OUTSIDE HOME
'SYDNEY, September' 17
The murder of Mr Arthur Brennan outside his home in Rowe Street, Clifton Hill, Melbourne, on Saturday night last was particularly brutal affair. It was made all the more poignant by the fact that Mr Brennan had gone to the assistance of neighbours. For some years past there had been an ar- ■ rangement between the two families ! that if either was frightened at night j they should knock on the dividing wall and so obtainjihelpf A family named Power lived next to the Brennans, and on Saturday night Miss Norah Power was in the house alone. She heard the front door bell ring three times, and then heard a man walk along the front veranda toi bedroom window. Miss Power did intend to open the front door, as she was expecting her neice, hut when she isaw a figure move away from the leadlight she changed her mind, and decided to knock for help. It was a. fatal knock. As soon as sh© heard the door in Mr Brennan’s house opened Miss Power* opened her own door, and, confronting the stranger, asked him what he wanted. He muttered some reply in a deep voice—a. voice that may he his undoijng. Meanwhile Mir Brennan had gone to the iron railing separating the two houses, and, leaning over, asked the mart what his business was. The intruder replied softly: “I haven’t done anything,” hut Miss Power had gone to the window, and she cried out that there' were marks on it indicating that an attempt had been made to force it. The man made a move to rush out of the gate, and Brennan, rushing out of his own gate, made a move to intercept him.
Mr Brennan lost no time, and in the street lie seized the stranger, who, all the time, had kept his hand in his overcoat pocket. Suddenly the man whipped his hand out of the. pocket, and pointing a revolver at Mr Brennan’s heart fired. On his part there had not been the slightest hesitation. It was evident that lie had meant to kill. Mr Brennan collapsed immediately, and the man made off down ..a lane and escaped. Miss Power, who had seen the whole incident, which hadi occupied only a fe.v seconds, screamed for help, and several neighbours rushed to the scene. One of these picked up Mr Brennan, who gasped: “My God, he lias shot me.” He then lapsed into unconsciousness, and he was dead before a- doctor arrived.
, Miss Power, who was greatly up c et by the tragedy, was able to give the detectives a very good description of the burglar. After an all-dav search on Sunday an empty revolver ease was found in the Power’s garden, and most important of all fingerprints were disoovered ,on -the nuin clow.,'>. ali i attempt to force which had been made.
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Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1931, Page 3
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484BRUTAL CRIME Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1931, Page 3
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