SHOT BY BURGLAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1921, Page 4

SHOT BY BURGLAR.

A CONSTABLE KILLED. NO TRACE OF MURDERER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Timaru, August 27. Early this morning Constable Dorgan was shot dead while in the execution of his duty. It appears that, at 1.30, Constables Christopher and Dorgan, while on duty in Stafford Street, discovered that the premises of T. and J. Thomson were being robbed by burglars. Constable Dorgan decided, to watch the premises, while the former sent for the proprietor. Dorgan evidently went into the right-of-way at the back of the shop, for when Christopher, returned he found him lying in the backyard, having been shot. The victim died within five minutes. Constable Christopher did not see the murderer and so far there is no trace of him. It appears that four shots were fired, one taking effect, entering Dorgan’s right breast and proving fatal within a few minutes. Another shot went through the top of his shako. Dorgan was 38 years of age and leaves a widow and three children. Timaru, Last Night. There is little to add regarding the murder. Constable Dorgan’s torch was found in a corner of the yard, and shuffled footprints prove that some chasing, if not scuffling, occurred before the shooting. At a post mortem last evening the bullet was extracted and the inquest will be opened to-morrow. At present there is no clue to the culprit and the police are up against a blank wall. The Minister of Justice sent Inspector Hastie a' message of condolence with the widow and family. The funeral takes place on Tuesday afternoon.