A PLUCKY CONSTABLE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9420, 16 April 1909, Page 6

A PLUCKY CONSTABLE.

Constable Gates, of the New Sooth Wales police, is a fine specimen of a plucky policeman as one could meet in a year’s travel. Early one morning last week a man named Crook entered a Sydney residence on theft intent, but roased the Inmates. When the occupier grappled with him, Crook shot him twice, and escaped. The police were at once informed, and Constable Gates decided to watch at a- ferry where ho thought the criminal would land. He picked a man who he thought was the person wanted, and followed him. His suspicions were deepened by the fact that the suspect kept bis right hand in his pocket. Stepping up to him, the constable asked why he was keeping his hand there. The answer was, “Because it is a habit of mine,’’ followed by a revolver shot at point-blank;range. The bullet went wide, and the burglar turned and ran. As he ran he fired twice oue bullet grazing Gates* jugular vein. Gates also fired, but without effect. The constable then calculated tbat the man’s revolver was empty ; three shots had been fired In the house, and three at him. So he magnanimously pot his revolver away, and decided to trust to his hands in effecting the arrest. At length the two men closed and went down. Gates had his hands on the fugitive's throat, but received a terrible blow on the forehead with the butt ©ad of tbe revolver. Thirteen times, no* cording to Constable Gates* account, he was struck with the weapon, and his strength began to fail. All this time his hands were clenched round the burglar’s throat. He called for help, and tbe noise roused the people of the neighbourhood, and windows were opened on every hand, but at first no one came to his assistance. Twice the burglar got away, and twice Gates, his battered head streaming with blood, pursued him and grappled with him again. At length a couple of N civilians came to the fainting constable’s assistance, and the man was secured. Gates* head was terribly out about all over, and the doctor who attended to him found it necessary to put in 21 stitches. His loaded revolver was lying in his pocket all the time. It is satisfactory to record tbat he was promoted on the spot.