EXCITING CHASE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1933, Page 6

EXCITING CHASE

CONSTABLE’S PROMPTITUDE. X-RAY TUBE RECOVERED. An e.xciwng chase m Sydney as the resuit of' a policeman s snrewd judgment. aiid alert action, led to the recovery oi a valuable X-ray tube and tno afresti of a man Wi.o was later charged '"with stealing. Having business to do at the Repatriation omces in Chalmers (street, ' t vli“ K.biW, llowker, manager of a feydjlew firm, le.t his car m tne street, in winch was a ease containing a. Kiencli pX-ray-tube, which he hacl recently imLported.at.iui..expeus.e_of .about,£u. He took tlie precaution,' however to wrap a •rug and newspapers around the case, and "their threw the car curtains over 'thiiiiirAvheii iie'returiied 'a'-fow minutes later' the ’ease liacl disappeared, hud he" immediately tried to start the car. He ioiuicl, however, --that ■ air attempt hacl been made to stni't jt in , his absence. The accelerator pedal was jammed in the floor, and the person had been baffled jby being tillable to find the ignition switch, lie had then apparently taken the case and rug and made off. Mr Bowkcr made inquiries, and he learned that a man had been seen running up Chalmers Street with a case and rug under his arm. He set off in pursuit. Meanwhile, Constable Howe, recognised the mart as an old offender, and, observing his haste, chased him. The man broke into a fast pace, but the constable overtook him and detained him. A minute or two later Mr Bowkcr wa s on the, scene, and he recognised his case and rug. The man was then arrested.

The tube, it is believed, is the only one of its kind ini Australia, and it will not Ite known until it is tested whether it. was damaged, it was imported on behalf of three Rose Bay medical men.