A PLUCKY VICAR.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9177, 22 June 1908, Page 6

A PLUCKY VICAR.

The Rev. Edward Dennjf,' M.A., pOpufarly known' as Father Denny, vicar of St. Peter’s,'Upper Kenning* ham Lane, and Progressive member for Kennington on London Connty Council, had a serious encounter in the early hours of a recent Sunday morning with a couple of burglars. He was awakened at about 3.45 a.m. by hearing a noise in the direction of his daughter’s bedroom, and this is what happened : “I listened, and, sitting up in bed, listened again. There was someone moving about. Grey dawn was just breaking. I arose and, quietly opening my bedroom door, proceeded along the passage. I gently pushed open the door of my daughter’s room, and therer, silhouetted against the window, were the forms of two big-headed fellows, who made a dash as if to escape. One, the lighter of build, with th* agility of a cat, disappeared below the window-sill as I closed witn the other. Then a terrible struggle began. I hit him a crack between the eyes and bore him to the ground. He struggled and wriggled, but I held him tight, delivering more than one well-directed blow. Then he butted, and as I reeled he slipped out on to the window-sill, and, putting his foot down as if feeling for the rung of a ladder, stepped into the darkness. I heard a crash in the yard, fully twenty-five feet, and then groans followed. I looked out and saw two men, ona trying to lift the other over the wall which runs on that side of the vicarage. It was evident that the second man was somewhat seriously injured, and I saw his companion ultimately give up the attempt to aid his escape, and run to save himself. There was a touch of humanity in that incident. It was all the work of minutes. My whole household was aroused, the police were quickly on the scene, and on examining the injured man \ it was decided to take him to St. \ Thomas’s Hospital where he lies I ' understand suffering from fractured ribs and a badly-sprained ankle. A ladder was lying in the yard.” .A