SERIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH A BURGLAR.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1244, 11 January 1883, Page 2

SERIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH A BURGLAR.

Early on Sept. 9th, Mr anil Mrs Doft-iel), living in l)dwh Rbad, Belgrave, near Leicbster; (Verb dwaaeneti by a burglat whd was in their bedi'op , n. Mrs Dowell, who is in delicate hba'l'.; was first disturbed, aud, tfi. het sut---, prise, she.saw a man’s head looking over tile foot of the bedstead. She neXt saw him craivling oh his hands and knees towards the bedrdom door, add she at once ctilled hef htisbanfl'j attention. Mr Dowell sprang but pf bed in pursuit of _thb burglar, who leßpted down the stairs at a bdnnd, but Mr Dowell, although undressed, followed ns fast as hb ctiuld, and got hold : of the burglar as hb reached the sitting room. The burglar, a Very powerful!ly. built man, struggled most violently* and a frightful encounter ensued. Mr Dowell held the burglar by thb throat, and, his shift beihg tohi tU shreds, the burglat could hot lay hoja of his naked body. The burgltlf pfovw the more powerful man of the tWo* and kept calling out “ Give it to hint," ’ evidently to frighten Mfs Dpwell and i prevent her coining to het husband’* I aid. She, however* with gfeat eotifaget ran, undressed, for a heavy pokfef) ■ and, just as her husband Was being j overpowered by the burglar, dealt the' latter a heavy blow on the forehead, I which drew blood and made the bdr> glar reel. Encouraged by this, she next attacked him from behind, and ! dealt him a decisive blow on the back lof the head, Which made an ugly wound, and knocked the burglar, i streaming with blood, on the floor. The burglar was now thoroughly pros* ! tratc and unable to move. 1 was procured, and Sergeant Allen was Called iii to apprehend the man. The police officer found the burglar lying Oil the floor in a pool of blood) While the room showed how sanguinary the struggle had been. The table was upside donm, the furniture and ornaments broken, and the whole place in confusion, while Mr Dowell was completely exhausted. In the yard outside the house were the prisoner’s boots, coat, and hat, which lie had removed previous to effecting an entrance. In i the bedroom it was found that prisoner ! had actually taken some cash out of i Mr Dowell’s trouser pockets as they j hung at the foot of the bed, while he i took a watch and guard from the ; i dressing table, and some other vnlu. ■ ables.