ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.
MAJOR OKBY'S HOUSE ENTERED. BUR3LA.R DISTURBED, EXCITING AMD PLITOKT CHASE. FURBUiSK FIRED AT. E3OAVE OF MBORKANT, Between 2.30 and 3 o'clock on Sunday morning, Major Nelson Okey was aroused by sounds of voids and footsteps in his house on the Fraukleyroad, and immediately after one of his son's shouted out to him. While jumping out of bed he heard a shot tired, and on running into tho passage found the back door op3n. He rushed I outside and called his elder son, but 'could neither see or hear anyone. He ! then hastily returned and slipped on ! some clothes, and not finding his son j ran towards the stable. Then he discovered a saddle, harness, and other . horse gear, with a rake and other articles all laid together as if in readiness to be taken away. Again returning to the house for a lantern, he noticed that his presentation match rifle was missing from the rack, and matters looked serious. Having got a lantern, he, in company with another son, at once set oft towards the main road to look for tho missing youth, a lad of about 17 years of ega, and eventually found him m iking his way back, but in a very exhausted state, The story which the youth told was to the effect that hearing someone in the hou«e he got out of bed, and went es quiotly as he could along the from his room, which is at the back of the house, towards the main passage, but unfortunately a board creaked and warned the intruder of his presence. A miD, evidently wearing felt soled boots, rushed down the passage to the back door and young Okey called out " What are you doing" and also " Father." Needless to say the burglar did not stop to explain, nor did the youth hesitate topursue, but dashed out after the nun whom he could just distinguish in the dull moonlight. About half-way to the gate the man turned and fired at his pursuer who heard the whiz of a bullet close to his head and fait the air waves caused by its transit. Nothing daunted he sp«d on, bub the mirandr giinbd somewhat by clearing the gate at a bound while young Okey hid to stop and unfasten it. Then commenced an exoiting crosi country chase during which Master Okey heard the click of the broach apparatus 08 if the rifle was being reloaded and no'icad that the man slowed ; down for the purpose. T'is on'y! served to give an addei impetus to ibe' ; plucky lau's i-ff >i ts aud he g <iued considerably on the enemy who after about a good hilf-mih run scumbled, jamming the muzzle of the rifle into a bank as he fell. Master Okey was upon the marauder before he could get up and seized him by the legs, but unfortunately was so pumped out by the chase that he w»s unabla to successfully cope with the efforts of his ciptive to releasehimsslf, and eventually thi man got; away, but wi hout the rifle, which the boy was able to restore to his father. On examination of the weapon it was found that the closed end of tho sight cover had baen shot away, and on going over tho gvouud in daylight an empty cartrigo case was found in the drive, wh-le an unused cartridge was di-,coveroil in tho locality where the man slowed down when evidently trying to insert another cartridge into the rifle. The nth when in the rack was unloaded, and it is evident that the burglar had supplied himself with ainmujitii>n of the same kind as is used by the Volunteers. \
1 The pljik and determination s'iohh by Mr Okoy's son are worthy of the bess traditions of tbe English race and of the family to which tho you v h belongs. To be fired at with aiifla p.* only about six yards distanco would tax tho nerve and grit of most young uier, but to continue thojursuif of a man i\rmod with such a dangerous we ipan uiiikes t : 'i..i dted oieof heroism, and the on'y ro.'-rofc that be should not have boon itble t-j oiown his bnivary with iho capture of the da p rata rufli ti *h» tiidd to t-.k >i is life. Th mrt:er was of coii«.-tie iipwel to t,)ie police, jnnd V is t,o he h-.ped ihcymiy bnng ithe would-be murderer to justice.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 168, 20 July 1903, Page 2
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740ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 168, 20 July 1903, Page 2
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