FIGHT IN THE DARK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3445, 26 March 1920, Page 5

FIGHT IN THE DARK.

A CHINAM'ANfS PLUCK,

SYDNEY, March 18.

Sid Lnilg, :1 Chinese greengx-ocer, of Oxford Street, Paddington, was awakened from sleep early yesterday morning from a blow on the 'head from :1 Salldbag. In spite of this sudden attack he put up a plucky fight against the twg men who had entered ‘his bedroom. He hit the finger of one of the men, and the other went to the rescue of his mate with a lemonade bottle, hitting Long on the head with it. The bottle broke and cut the wrist of the man who wielded it. Long continued to resist so desperately that ‘both men gave up the fight and F3ll away. v ‘ I

When Detective-Sergeant Barclay, Detective James and Sergeant. Best and Constable Devine (Paddington) made their investigations they traced blood from the shop along a few yards to William Street. and then to Underwood, Union, and Stafford Streets. NEARLY BIT HIS FFINGER OFF. Long stated this morning that -he closed his shop at 11 o’clo(:k on Saturday night. and he and his assistant. Ah Chick, went upstairs. Long went to sleep about 1 o"clock. About half-an-hour afterwards he felt a blow on the back of his head, and saw in the darklierss the shadow of a man. T'he’blow had not landed with full force, and Long had his wits about him. Jumping out of bed. he sprang forward to attack his assailant. He was pushed backwards by the stranger, who placed his hand over his mouth» in much the same manner as a fouling boxer does when he palms his opponent. Long immediately get one of the Inan’s fingers between his teeth, and nearly chewed it off. The sandbagger called out. “Come on, Ted! -he=’s got me.” There was no light in the room STR.UCK WITH A BOTTLE.

Long, still holding on to t-he man’s finger with his teeth, grabbed him by‘ the coat, and was endeavouring to throw him when a second man ran into the room, and with a lemonade bottle he’ had taken ‘from the shop struck ‘Long over the head-.’ The Hot.tle broke, and the man’s hands were badly cut. The blow was not a heavy one, ‘but it was suflicient to cause Long to release the man he held. The greengrocer started to punch, kick, and bite when he got the chance. He fought; so desperately that the two thieves were forced to break ground. Furniture was smashed in the struggle. Long punched the man who had hit him with the bottle, and bumping his head against the wall dazed him. The first thief‘ saw that his mate was beaten, and pushed him out of the room. The two men then got away. ODD BOOTS. While the fight in the clark was going on Ah Chick, despite the sound of voices, slept in a room a few feet away. , Long was too weak to chase his assailants. He awoke ‘Ah Chick, and liaiitliiio; him the diamond rings he was wearing he subsequently walked along to Dr Curgenven’s surgery, at 23 Elizabeth Street. Paddington, where stitches were inserted in the wounds of his head. He then went to the l.’ud«:liri;‘ton Police Station and r(‘lated his expol'imlceS. The police found that the ‘two men had left their boots downstairs before going up to Long,’s room. There was no evidence of the place having been broken into, consequently the police assumed that the men had secreted thenlselve.<‘in the back of the shop just before closing time, and waited their chance to get upstairs. They left three. boots behind, but one of Long’s was missing, so that one of the men took with him odd footwear. Siibseqiieiitly, at the Sydney Hospital, a man with a cut hand, and wearing different boots, was admitted to the institution. He was questioned by the police. and will remain in their custody.