GRIM DRAMA AT WANGANUI

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 1

GRIM DRAMA AT WANGANUI

Sequel to Lover’s Frenzied Act CROWD WATCHES SIEGE OF SWEET SHOP (Special to THE BUXj STAGGERING into the street with blood streaming from her head, Mrs. D. Withey, a young- woman, keeper of the Parisian Sweet Shop, opposite the Opera House, screamed for help. Before she collapsed she declared to a passer-by that she had been attacked by a man in the shop. Afterwards she was sent to hospital and operated on. Over 3,000 people waited until close on midnight to see the tragic denouement which, in the eyes of the police, was inevitable. The man, Frederick George Allen, had violently assaulted Mrs. Withey with a bottle, causing injuries to the head. Then he locked himself up in the shop, rejected all overtures to come out until almost midnight when he fulfilled the expectations of the police by blowing his head off, the tragic ending being the result of an attempt to force him out by pumping very strong ammonia into the building.

mHE opening chapter of the drama * took place shortly after 6.30 p.m., «ien Mrs. Withey returned from tea to begin business for the evening. Allen, whose offer of marriage had been rejected some time ago. arrived with a double-barrelled gun. liter a short altercation he struck her severely on the head with a bottle, inflicting a deep scalp wound md cutting one of the arteries in her bead. The young woman fell to the !oor, but managed to stagger out of lie shop to the footpath, where she vis seen by Arthur Gaskin, custodial of the Opera House, bleeding most profusely. The supervisor of ihe telephone wchange next door heard her cries. After investigating the cause he immediately telephoned for police and medical aid.

THREATENING LETTERS The injur;. ', woman was removed to hogpif.' ! , where her wound was dressed. It is believed she will recover. although in a terribly nervous condition as a result of the shock ud the disquieting threatening letters ilie has received from Allen during tie past few months, since his overtures were refused. In the meantime Allen, who believed he had killed the woman, locked himself up in the shop and a strong body of police and detectives arrived.

Patrons on the way to the pictures, ascertaining that the siege was on, lagan to accumulate, while telephone rings to friends telling of the sensation brought hundreds more into town, uutil over 3,000 people were nirrounding the building. A right-of-way between the lisged building and the automatic telephone exchange gave the police access to a side window. Facing this window was Allen, seated on a box with his coat and vest off. and a double-bar-relled gun across his knees. Detectives "Walsh and Revell had *ith them practically the whole staff r! the Wanganui police excepting Senicr-Sergeant Lopdell, who is away ii Rotorua on holiday at present.

TALKING TO POLICE A conversation with Allen was wmmenced. The besieged man talked quite rationally but refused to surrender himself, and said that if 'lie position were forced he would ’loot the first man who entered and vould then turn the gun on himself. He had 12 rounds of ammunition and save the police to understand that he 'ould do a lot of damage before the end came. Constable Roache, with whom Allen friendly several years ago in raiding, where he ran a second-hand shop, endeavoured to induce him to eotne out. but without avail. Inspector Till and Sergeant Slvyer, *ho were jin charge of operations, 'ere noa-plussed and were content 'or some time to play a waiting game 'Mil Allen's excitement wore down. Ho was told several times that the ‘oman was not killed, but this h ‘PParently doubted, and he was afraid 0 surrender himself for fear of being •Tested on a charge of murder. I will pep off anyone who conies '? here, whether friend or not,” de- ' lre d Allen. Detective Walsh asked Allen to let in to play him a game of poker. Come on,” he urged “be a sport.” Who’ll have the first draw?” in'Ulred Allen.

fou can.” replied Detective Walsh. Too right 1 will,” said Allen, his o‘cs filled with deadlv menace. "I'll "J* trigger.” those at the window kept urging “ 4 cajoling. it° me on, Allen,” called one of the “formed men. "We're all your HfnHs here.” lou’ve g ot some —caper on,”. Allen. , no caper here,” replied the a hle. “There's no one here will “Urt yog,’* ~:?*** * might hurt someone there,” Allen. PParentiy he pointed his gun, for b, called out, “Now, don't l t lr ' George. Don't point that gun. Wt o* 8H °® and someone will be I go off my beat at five H ■’ He added jocularly, "1 want Th l “ ere t° report.” Allen 6 °^ c ‘‘ rp humour was lost upon b r * ’ hovever, who repeated his. ■ires P°P off” anyone who ven-j ovar the window ledge. He,

named Senior-Sergeant Lopdell for particular attention if he showed his head. DESPERATE MEASURES The police then realised that desperate measures would have to be adopted to force Allen out, yet at the same time to arrest him without personal injury to himself, and to prevent his turning his gun on the crowd. Several times he asked what the crowd was doing there. He was told that it was interval time at the theatre, but he was not satisfied and .went to the front window to ascertain for himseif. Then he became more determined than ever not to give himself up. The police were powerless under the circumstances, though the conversations were carried on from a little side window, which was of casement design. This was opened several times slightly during the evening enabling Allen to receive cigarettes and matches, while in return he passed out bottles of aerated water to the detectives and police, but he made sure the opening was no bigger than he desired, giving no chance of his arm being caught.

“HAVE A WHISKY” Detective Walsh asked him if he would like whisky. “Yes,” replied Allen, “but. X won’t take it as you want to dope me. I had six whiskies earlier in the evening,” he continued. “But don’t think I’m drunk. I’m cold sober.” Suggestions were then made that a spray of ammonia be injected into the building. The services of Superintendent Williams, at the Central Fire Brigade, were then solicited. The chemical engine with staff of firemen soon arrived and preparations were made to carry out a gas hosing attack. When the big engine arrived in front of the building Allen moved into the shop. His face could be distinctly seen at the window. Detective Revell was covering him with a revolver in case of emergency. Alien went back to a room at the back and stayed there with the gun across his knee. Once he raised the gun when he saw Superintendent Williams at the window and told him to clear back.

GAS-MASKS OBTAINED An effort to get a sufficient quantity of ammonia to gas Allen out was then made, a large cylinder being obtained from the Refrigerating Company’s freezing works. Gas-masks for the safety of the firemen entering the building were also procured. The large crowd took a lively interest in the proceedings and quite a number of times had to be forced back to the safety zone in case Allen

came out and did wliat lie said lie i would, “cause a scatter with his gun.” j At about a-quarter to 12 everything was in readiness. The corrugated iron wall was pierced, piping inserted, and the ammonia turned on. It was thought that as soon as Allen j was aware of the ammoniated fumes : he would bolt for the front door. There, j however, firemen were placed with a hose to give him a full pressure of water and knock him over before he could use his gun. THE FINAL ACT These preparations were needless, however, as immediately Allen smelt the ammonia a shot was heard. A few minutes were given and then the front door was forced. One fireman was almost overpowered by the strong fumes and retired. A man with a gasmask then entered and drew out the body of Allen, who had completely shot away his head. The crowd, with unsatisfied morbidness, rushed the door, but the brigade quickly turned the hose on the approaching mob, and several hundreds received a proper drench ing. It was after midnight when the crowd dispersed and the police took ihe body to the morgue. ALLEN'S HISTORY Allen, was 32 years of age. He served in the war, after which he took on jobs as busliman and farm labourer. Last year he was informer and principal witness in the cast of alleged killing of a neighbour’s sheep against a young farmer at Maxwelltown, but the jury acquitted accused, Allen having apparently incited the police to take action because of a dispute over wages, Allen demanding payment for working on wet days. The fleeces produced in court were proved by experts to have come from dead carcases, not killed sheep. Allen next figured prominently in a court case following his throwing a block of cement through the window of the Parisian Sweet Shop. In that case he was admitted to two years’ probation, but apparently he never got over his love affair, which ended so tragically last night.

Inquiries to-day show that Mrs. Withey is suffering from a fractured skull, besides wounds, but her condition is not critical. Those who have observed Allen since the alleged sheep-killing- case last year state that there were many evidences that at times he was mentally deranged. It was generally believed that lie was the person who was responsible for gelignite being placed under a sweet and ice cream stall in Cook’s Gardens a few months ago, Mrs. Withey being interested in those premises. PROGRESSING FAVOURABLY Press Association WANGANUI, To-day. Dora Beryl Withey, the victim of last night’s assault, was operated upon and to-day is progressing favourably.