ENCOUNTER WITH A CONVICT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1644, 8 October 1887, Page 4

ENCOUNTER WITH A CONVICT.

Melbourne, Sept. 28. Detective .Nixon had a most miraculous escape from murder at the hands of an old convict yesterday. He and several other detectives made a descent on a house in Filzroy to arrest suspected burglars. They iound three men in the house Coleman, Cohen, and Chris. Farrell, the last named a noted gaol bird, though in appearance a mildmannered, white-haired, and benevolent old gentleman. Cohen was lying on a sofa, and Farrell in bed in the same room. Detective Ward said to kartell, ff Hullo, Chris, wo front you ; you had better get up,” and Farrell made n movement in the bedclothes, as if to do so. Ward' stepped back out of the door, and said to Nixon, who waa following him, “ This is the man.” Nixon entered the room, and, found himself confronted by a revolver. Without uttering a syllable, Farrell fired ; Nixon instinctively turned bis right side' towards tba shot, so as to present leas of a target, and received the bullet on the side, just ribs. He felt a sharp pain, and tbongbt that the bullet had entered his side, but without a moment’s hesitation he threw himsqlf upon 1 Farrell, and had him pinned by the throat and the right hand before he could shoot again. The old man struggled desperately, but was forced back on the bed. The hand which hold the pistol was pressed down by the bpdy : of Nixon, arid he'strained every nerve to turn the mozz'e towards the breast of that officer in order to shoot him again. Be thought be had succeeded in this endeavor once, and cried, “ I have got you.now,” but the officer, confident in Ins superior strength, replied, “ No you have not.” All this passed in the space of a few seconds, and meantime Ward, who turned upon hearing the shot fired, had sprung on to the struggling men on the bed, and gripping Farrell by the throat, he fairly throttled him:; 'but it was riot till blood was issuing from' his ears that the; desperate ruffian, felli back exhausted, Even then he still gripped the pistol, but : hi» thumb was bent jbaek until he relaxed - Hie hold from-sheer pain, and the weapbn fell on the bed. Nixon put it into his pocket, and Farrell was then handcuffed without further trouble. Cohen sat quietly on the sofa and watched the struggle, without endeavoring to assist one side or the other. An examination being made, it was found that Nixori had escaped in a most remarkable manner. The bullet had struck a collection of papers and photographs in the inner pocket of bis coat, It penetrated through these, but was stopped just before entering the flesh by a folding ticket with leather back, in the form of an annual railway pass, on which the detective’s authority is transcribed. The ballet was foand in fcia clothes. It was evident that Farrell was determined not to let himself be taken again, for the revolver which be used was taken from a case which was strapped round him in bed. The detectives are convinced that these men have been concerned in several of the most daring offences which havo taken place recently, notably the attempted burglary at Ascotvale, when the robbers being disturbed presented a revolver and a knife at Constable Quinlan, and the brutal assault on Mr Josiah Bunting at North Carlton. In the latter outrage, it will be remembered, an old man and a young man were concerned. Mr Bunting was struck with a loadad whip handle on the head as he lay in bed, and the robbers left without any booty, declaring with curses that they had mistaken the house, A whip handle, answering exactly the description given By Mr Bunting of the one which struck him, was found in Coleman’? house, and the description of the two men tallies in every particular with the appearance of Farrell and Coleman. The former, who is 61 years of age, has served sentences sggregating 85 years.