DRAMATIC ARREST OF A BURGLAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8780, 6 April 1907, Page 1

DRAMATIC ARREST OF A BURGLAR.

At midnight on a recent Saturday the Perth police surprised and captured a notorious prison-breaker named Thomas Gibbous as he was attempting to blow up a safe in a coal merchant’s office adjoining the Perth railway bridge. As two police officers rushed in upon him Gibbous shouted excitedly, “For heaven’s sake don’t [come in hero or you will be blown up. ’ ’ The officers, however, closed with him, and while they were struggliug'desperately one of them heard a hissing sound, and, looking round, observed a lighted fuse attcahed to the top of the safe and connected with a large charge of gelatine. While the other other officer wrestled with Gibbons, ho managed to stamp it out just in the nick of time. An expert in explosives declared that sufficient dynamite was being employed in blowing up the safe to have wrecked the adjoining bridge and railway lines leading to Aberdeen and the Highlands, Gibbous being ignorant of the tremendous power of the explosive. After he had been overpowered a large quantity of explosives was found in his possession. Gibbons’ career of crime is an extraordinary one. Not only has he on more than one occasion succeeded in breaking out of Perth prison, but he recently underwent a term of incarceration for attempting to break into the quarters of one _of the officers at the penitentiary. ‘ About two years ago he effected a daring escape from Inverness prison by opening doors with keys which he had made "out of the prison pewter mugs. It was only after he had been ai liberty for tliree days, during which ho crossed the Grampian Hills on foot, that hunger obliged him to surrender. Ho is utterly without fear, and although only 36 years of age, 16 years of his life have been spent in prison.