A DRAMATIC CAPTURE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 201, 18 August 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

A DRAMATIC CAPTURE.

An electric burglar trap came intu successful operation on the premises ol a firm of dyers and cleaners at Balhan Hill. London, in the early morning of April 5), 1912. The apparatus had been only installed the day before, and its usefulness was soon apparent. An errand boy employed by the firm arrived on the premises at eight o'clock, one of his duties being to feed the cat a T i that hour. Opening the shop door he at once heard veils and shouts from a Lack treom, \\\o dcors between the rooms and the shop having been broken down. The lael made h's way through and found a man standing by the desk with both hands on the metal rod, and knew at once he was held by the electric burglar trap. The man swore at th« boy and told him to turn off the lever at once, for ho was fainting. But tho boy was too wise to release him, and, saying "Wa't a minute." ran off for ;• policeman, who hurried back with him. When he saw the man lie told the boy to sw.'tch off tho current quickly " before he's killed." He was suffering from shock, but was not seriously injured, the current not being strong enough to cause lasting injury. He had effected an entry at the rear of the premises by cutting out a glass panel and then breaking through the two doors inta the shop, had ransacked that and the offices, proceedmg to the desk in the back room, evidently in the hope of securing some cash, hj« placed his hands on the metal rod of the desk and was caught. With the first shock he endeavoured to pull la's hands away, but the electric current held them fast. and lie spent the long hours in the effective grip of the burglar trap. When searched by the police he was found to be in posscss'on of a revolver, loaded in six chamber*, and it would probably have gone badly with the boy had he released him.