POLICE v. BURGLARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 4

POLICE v. BURGLARS.

| A SENSATIONAL AFFRAY. POLIQEMAN SHOT DEAU THE BURGLARS CAPTURED. By Cable—Presß Association—Copyright. Received Oct. 1, 0.20 p.m. ' Melbourne, Oct. 1 A sensational encounter took place i between police and three burglars at I the Trades Hall, resulting in Constable McGrath being shot dead, and two of the intruders, John Jackson and Richard Buckley, being wounded. A constable on duty at the Trades Hall had his suspicions aroused by a slight sound of sawing. He sent for assistance, and a posse of police surrounded the building. On entering it they were met with a volley of revolver shots, to which-they replied. When the lights Were turned on two men were seen running along the corridor. Constable McGrath hurried along the passage, where he was subsequently found in a dying condition. The two burglars then rushed for a door, amid a rapid exchange of shot* between them and the police. Jackson, who was wounded in tho thigh and had 'received a broken ankle, was secured in the building, and Buckley, who wsa seriously wounded in the' neck, collapsed after reaching the yard. Meantime, tho third burglar, Ward, was caught when attempting to escape from a window. Received Oct. 1, 10.40 p.m. Constable McGrath received two shots in the breast when entering the doorway of tho corridor. Sub-Inspector McKenna had a narrow escape. A burglar fired a shot which grazed him and entered the thigh of a second burglar, Jackson, >who was in the line of fife. Buckley and Jackson are in hospital, and subsequently, with Ward, will be charged with the murder of McGrath. Tlie burglars' objective was the office of the Typographical Society. The safe was found wrenched from its stand, and portion of its steel back was sawn off. When they were interrupted the men were prising the safe open with a jemmy. There have been several attempted burglaries at the Trades Hall lately. One succeeded, £4OO being stolen, and since then the hall ha; been closely watched. ' '