A DESPERATE BURGLAS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 106, 20 September 1912, Page 5

A DESPERATE BURGLAS.

SENTENCED TO pEATH. By Oablp—Press Association—Copyright. Received 19, 9.30 p.m. Melbourne, September 19. Moore has been found guilty of an attempt to murder Mr. Syme on August 21, and has been sentenced to death. Received 20_ 1.5 a.m. Melbourne, September 19. Moore's counsel urged that he used the revolver to frighten Mr. Syme. He did not intend to shoot. The jury recommended Moore to mercy, on the ground that lie might 'have, inflicted more serious harm than he did. It will be remembered that on the date in question Mr. Geoffrey Syme, one of the proprietors of the Age newspaper, had a sensational encounter with a burglar. He was awakened by a man in his bedroom carrying an electric lamp. The intruder presented a revolver, and Mr. Syme grappled with him. A fierce struggle ensued, the burglar firing several shots, one grazing Mr. Syme's arm. Eventually he overmastered the burglar, and held him till assistance arrived. The man was severely handled, and was removed to the gaol hospital. Mr. Syme was confined to bed with several punctures in the breast, inflicted by his assailant with a pair of shears. In the struggle. Mr. Syme and the burglar rolled downstairs locked together. Mr, Syme seeured the burglar's Browning revolver and battered his head till he was unconscious. The heads of both were severely cut in the fall, and Mr. Syme's toe nail was torn off. One of his fingers was bitten almost through. He bled extensively from wounds in the chest. His assailant was violent in the hospital, and was strapped to his bed. The burglar was identified as Ginger Moore, a notorious criminal, and alleged leader of a gang of masked burglars who some time, ago terrorised Sydney. He was only recently released after serving a long sentence for burglary.