Gun Duel in Melbourne

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 956, 26 April 1930, Page 20

Gun Duel in Melbourne

Plucky Constable Wounded

BLEVEN shots were exchanged at short range in a pistol duel in a lane off Chapel Street, Prahran, Victoria, between Plainclothes Constables Rowe and Higgins and a man who was suspected of having broken into a shop. Only one of the shots took effect, a bullet from the suspect’s .32 calibre automatic pistol striking Constable Higgins high up on the left breast. The bullet passed between the ribs, missed the lung and important bloodvessels, and, piercing the shoulderblade, emerged from the constable’s back near his neck. Though felled by the wound, the constable pluckily struggled to his feet and resumed the chase. Knocked Down By Car After the shooting the man mounted a bicycle and was riding down Chapel Street when he was knocked down by a motor-car, had an arm aud leg injured, and several ribs broken. He was easily captured with the assistance of the motorist. Following oil a robbery at a cos-

■ ' tumiere's shop, the police found a > 1 chaff bag containing dresses valued at l /£6O hidden under some timber on a , j vacant allotment at the rear of the - j shop. • j A watch was kept for over 30 hours, l ! and then Constable Higgins saw two i ; men ride up on bicycles, climb the j fence of the vacant allotment, and api I proacli the stolen property. Refused to Stop j Higgins called on them to stop, and when they did not do so fired a shot || at them. One man got clear away, . i but the other climbed the fence near . j where Constable Rowe was hiding. Rowe called out, “Stop or I’ll shoot.” : The man replied, “I'll well shoot, ] too.” He then drew an automatic pistol and fired two shots at Rowe. Rowe \ returned the fire, but after the second ' shot his pistol jammed. Higgins then joined Rowe and fired j three shots at the man who was run- j ning down a lane leading hack to; Chapel Street. The man stopped, j turned, and at a 15 yards range fired three shots at Higgins, the last bullet striking Higgins on the shoulder.