FIGHT IN THE DARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2110, 1 April 1920, Page 4

FIGHT IN THE DARK.

A CHINAMAN’S PLUCK. Sydney, March 18. Sid Lon", a Chinese greengrocer, of Oxford Street, Paddington, was awakened from sleep early yesterday morning from a blow on the head from a sandbag. In spite of this sadden attack lie put up a plucky tight against the two men who had entered his bedroom. He bit the linger of one of the men, and the other went to the rescue of his mate with a lemonade bottle, hitting Long on the head with it. The bottle broke and cut the wrist of the man who wielded it. Long continued to resist so desperately that both men gave up the tight and ran away. When Detective-Sergeant .Barclay. Delocliv.e James, and Sergeant Best and Constable Devine (Paddington) made their investigations they traced blood from the shop along a few yards to A illiam Street, and then to Underwood, Union, and Stafford Streets. NEARLY BIT HIS FINGER OFF. Lund stated this morning that he closed his shop at 11 o’clock on Saturday night, and he and his assistant, Ah Chick, went upstairs. Long went to sleep about 1 o'clock. About halt- an-hour afterwards lie felt a blow on Hie back of his head, and saw in the darkness (ho shadow of a man. The blow had not landed with full force, and Long had his whs about him. Jumping out of bed, he sprang forward to attack his assailant, ile wm-A pushed backwards by the stranger, who placed Ids hand over his month in much the same manner as a fouling boxer docs when he palms Ids opponent. Long immediately got one of the man's lingers between his iecih, raid nearly chewed it off. The o andbagger called out. “Come- on, Ted! lie's got me." There was no light in lhe*rooni. STRUCK WITH A BOTTLE. Long, still lio!(ling;m to the man's finger, with his teeth,grabbed him by the coat, and was endeavouring to throw him when a second man ran into the room, and with a lemonade bottle ho bad taken from the shop struck Long over the head. The bottle broke, and the man’s hands wore badly cut. The blow was not a heavy one, but it was suflieient to cause Long to release the man he held. The greengrocer started to punch, Icicle, and bite when he got the chance. He fought so desperately that the two thieves were forced to break ground. Furniture was smashed in the struggle. Long punched the man who had hit. him with the bottle, and bumping - Ids land against the wall dazed him. The first thief saw that his male was beaten, and pushed him out .of the room. The (wo men (hen got a wav. ODD BOOTS. While the fight in the dark was going on, Ah Chick, despite the sound of voices, slept in a room a ■few feet away. Long was 100 weak to chase his assailants. He awoke Ah Chick, and handing him the diamond rings lie was wearing he subsequently walked along to Dr. Curgenven's surgery, at Elizabeth Street, Paddington, where stitches were inserted in the wounds on his head. He then wen* to the Paddington Police Station and related his experience. The police found that the two men had left their boots downstairs before going up to Long's room. There was no evidence of the place having been broken into, consequently the police assumed that‘the men had secreted themselves in the hack of the shop just before closing lime, and wailed their chance to get upstairs. They left three boots behind, but one of Long's was missing, so that one of the men took with him odd footwear. Subsequently, at the Sydney Hospital a man with a cut hand, and wearing different boots, was admitted to the institution. He was questioned by the police, and will remain in their custody.