DESPERATE MIDNIGHT FIGHT WITH BURGLAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 232, 23 May 1932, Page 5

DESPERATE MIDNIGHT FIGHT WITH BURGLAR

(Press.- Assn.—

COUPLE'S PLUCK STOREKEEPER HELPED BY WIFE TO CAPTURE INTRUDER COMPANION GETS AWAY

By Telegraph— Copyrlght).

AUCKLAND, Sunday. A daring attempt to rob he Alfriston P ost Office store, wliicix occurred early on SunTay morning, was fustrated by the timely appearance of tbe storekeeper, Mr. S. E. Gregory, who surprised two mbn forcing an e'ntry fnrough the grain roo'm adjourning the store. Afte'e a desperate struggle, Iasting about 20 minutes, be managed with the assistance of wife, to overpower one man, whb was taken into custody by the police. Mr. Gregory had recently installed an alarm system, following two previous attempts to brealc into the store. Despite his exciting experience, Mr. Gregory suffered no serious injuries, but complained of many bruises. He said that he was awakened shortly after midnight by the alarm gong. He seized an unloaded shotgun and entered the store and took up a position with the guh pointing directly at the closed door. He

neard stealthy movements in the grain room and the sound of a door being forced. "On the signal, my wife, who had followed me, stood aside as the door slowly opened. The electric light was switched 6n and revealed two meil muffled in overcoats standing in the doorway. They wore overcoats with mufflers drawn up to their faces, and their hats drawn down over their eyes. I called to them to put up their hands. They ducked quickly back into the grain room and bolted for the roadway. Figbt with. Intruder • "I caught hold of one mari as he was running through the door, and pulled him back. He appa'rently saw he could not escape without a fight and he hit out at my head and body with his fist. I tried to overpower him without resorting to violence. We struggled for about five minutes and he wrenched himself free and ran to the rear door, which I had locked on my entry. Trapped there, we again came to grips. He broke away and grabbed a long handled slasher standing in the store and came at me with it. He did not use the blade, but tried to knock me out with the wooden handle.. "Realising that I could not seeure him without khocking him out, I called to my wife to hit him. She had been present all the time. "Mrs. Gregory seized a chopper, a long handled instrument and struck at him. The first blow hit him on the hand and the second on the head. He immediately sank to the ground and surrendered." Mr. Gregoly stood guard over the man, while Mrs. Gregory telephoned for Constable Maloney at Papatoetoe. He arrived in a short time and took the man into cutsody. "During the struggle the man kept his head bent, said Mr. Gregory, "as if he was anxious to avoid recognition. I understood this after his

capture as I recognised the man as a former resident of the district." Mr. Gregory's clothing bore signs of the struggle, his pyjama coat being torn to pieces. Mr. Gregory is the owner of the Alfriston store and has been Postmaster there for the past five. years. He served in the Indian Army.