AN ENCOUNTER WITH A BUR GEAR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1369, 23 July 1885, Page 1

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A BUR GEAR.

A clever capture of a burglar was effected by Constable Herbert at Auckland on Sunday morning. Some weeks ago James Dunn, a noted burglar, who was released last January from Wellington Gaol, where he had finished 14 years’ sentence for various burglaries, was arrested in Auckland charged with drunkenness, and having a revolver upon him, which he threatened to draw upon the arresting constable. On being searched a watch and chain were found on him, the latter claimed by a busbman, who said he had been robbed of it while drunk. Dunn was committed for trial on the charge of robbery, but at the last sessions of the Supreme Court was acquitted, the bosh man declining to swear to the charge. Before Dunn’s'street he had been watched whilst on the Thames by Constable Herbert, and on that officer’s removal to Auckland to act as a plain clothes constable in the Detective service he again kept his eye on Dunni and since Ids release and acquittal from custody he has “ shadowed ” him from day today. The reason for doing so was that the police authorities wt-re satisfied Dunn would be up to Ins old tricks again. Constable Herhen’s anticipations were realised, for, about half-past two oVo>.k nn Sunday morning, he captured Dunn redhanded in a burglary at the Oxford Hotel, Hat ling Street, undt-r the followiog circumstances : Throughout the whole of Saiurday night, Constable Herbert had been ‘‘shadowing” him, and about half-past two o’clock he noticed a flicker of light in the bar of the Oxford Hotel winch quickly disappeared. After a moment or two he took off his boots, and, handcuffs in hands stole across the street. On reaching the hotel he discovered one of the windows partly opened and Dunn in the act of coming out of it in his stocking feet. He at once endeavored to arrest him, but Dunn drew a revolver with which he was armed and aimed a blow at Constable Herbert but missed him, and before he could recover himself the constable had him by the hands. A struggle ensued between the two men, which ended in the constable wrenching the weapon out of Dunn’s hands and throwing him on the ground. Dunn then faced the constable again and another struggle took place, the former endeavoring to get possession of his revolver and the constable to prevent it. Constable Herbert knowing the desperate character he had to deal with, knowing also that he generally carried a revolver, struck him with his handcuffs on the head, partially stunning him. After resistance, Dunn became exhausted. The inmates or me noiei (who had become alarmed by the struggle) as well as neighbors turned out to sea what was on. The constable took his prisoner into the hotel, where he handcuffed and searched him. In liis pockets he found a very sharp table-knife. Pulling, the proprietor of the hotel, on examining it found about £2 taken from the till. On searching about the neighborhood Dunn’s boots were at last discovered planted on a doorstep on the opposite side of the road. Subsequently Dunn’s lodgings were searched, and a portmanteau containing a lot of wearing apparel was found, the greater portion of which the police have reason to believe is stolen.