BURGLAR AND BOARDER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 227, 23 March 1912, Page 8

BURGLAR AND BOARDER

REyOLVER DUEL IN SYDNEY. A sensational occurrence was reported to the Sydney police last week.. James Thompson, residing at Mrs. K. Tipples' boarding establishment, Esmeyville, Randwick, had a revolver duel with a burglar. Between midnight and two in the morning a man scaled the balcony of Esmeyville, and after going through Mrs. Hilda Moore's room turned his attention to the apartment of Mr. Thompson, and succeeded in securing some money. About two o'clock, when a storm was raging, Mr. Thompson became aware of his balcony door being opened. He was about to rise, when he heard someone in his room near a 'chest of drawers. His revolver was in a drawer close at hand, but as he could not secure it without warning the burglar, lie decided to bluff him.

Sitting up in bed, Mr. Thompson straightened out his arm in the direction of where he believed the man to be and called out, •'Hands up!" The intruder obeyed, and Mr. Thompson saw him emerge from the wardrobe'and turn round, with his two arms in the air. As Mr. Thompson left the bed to secure his revolver the burglar sprang out on to the balcony aud clambered over the rail and commenced to slide down one of the posts. Mr. Thompson bad meanwhile secured his revolver, and leaning over the balcony fired two shots at the retreating thief, who was l\alf-wav down the post. He threw up one baud, and called out, "I'm shot! I'm shot!"

Believing from tlie agonised erv of the man that he had really shot him, Mr. Thompson ceased firing and watched the fellow slide to the ground. He reeled forward for a couple of yards, as if badly wounded. Suddenly ho straightened up, and drawing a revolver from his hip pocket lired six shots in rapid succession at Air. Thompson. Some of the shots struck the balcony front, while others passed dangerously close to the astonished hoarder's head. The burglar then made oil'.