CROSS-COUNTRY CHASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 192, 3 January 1913, Page 5

CROSS-COUNTRY CHASE.

TWO DETECTIVES AND BICYCLE THIEF. PIPE AS A REVOLVER. Ohristehurch. December 3(1. ' This afternoon a man named Cecil Ardlev left his bicycle near the entrance to the public gardens anil returned in lime to see a young ■mail, nearly six feet tall, carrying it off.

He had friends with him. and he left them to watch events while lie rushed to the detective office. It was roughly 5 o'clock, and he found Detectives Regan and Thompson there. They responded to his call at once and went down by cycle. ■-Tlfen followed a great cross-country race, lasting more than an hour. The track was. roughly, .from the corner of Hereford street to Cashel street, across the road to Hereford street almost opposite the police station, through the High School grounds to Worcester street, thence to Gloucester street and three times round a house there, and then the capture of the thief resulted. The fugitive had a. start of one section. lb' was very fit. Both detectives were unarmed, but. Detective Thompson called to the fugitive that he would fire. The man went harder than ever. The detectives kept, their ground. A clergyman challenged one as he came across the fence: "Do you know where you are? Do you know what you are doing':" There was 110 answer, and the chase -wept 011. An old lady threatened them with tho broom with which she was sweeping the yard. It. was a matter of scrambling, and. while, the Tasmauian palings worried them, it was the iron fences with serrated tops that cut their hands and fore their clothes.

'Die fugitive kept, his distance. and ;lt the ninth obstacle Detective Thoxun>iin fell. Regan was loft sailing along. It wa.s as though ;i mark had been drawn between the two of thorn and tlie rest of the world. N'o others joined in th * eba.se.

The eSeapce tired and the detective was not as fresh us he had been. Ha ell teiK'e -coined a more difficult obstacle. They earru' at length !o a big house in Aririayb street. The fugilivo was tired Ifth'r the detective was wear)'. There \voro u<> nuivc fences. Throe til sl - l'Onnd Hi" hou-e they rushed—- « lilt!" gaiui nf car iinil mouse. Both were (1 me, V Detective liegail played his last. card..A He bluffed that his pipe was a rovolvek The man's hands went up and it wiMall over.