RAPID-FIRE JUSTICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9173, 24 August 1908, Page 7

RAPID-FIRE JUSTICE.

BRITISH OFFICER'S FIGHT WITH A BURGLAR. A burglar who tried to rob Major Mos'.yn Cookson, of the Ist Royal Regiment, and his wife, at the Hotel Belmont, New York, early on the raornin-r of July 9th, met with swift and severe punisirnent. The burglar, Nathan Levine by name, entered Major Ccckson's apartments on the fourteenth flo:r about 2.30, by rmans of the fire escape. Mrs Co'.k-?. was awakened to find Levn.e 3laai:n;; ovei ha- fleshing an electric dark lantern in her face. He ordered l.er coL to make a scunc', but Mrs Cool:£on screamed «nd her shrieks awakened her husband, who was slepin. on the oppo- I site side of the room. Major Cookson quickly turned on thetledric lights, but the burglar still sico.l over his wife with a revolver in each ha -A He ordered Major Cookson to lie down instantly, and he then started to tie Mrs Couksron's wrists to the I cdpost. i„ oriier w do this Levins wes foic d to put (own his revolvers. Major Cookson t< ok advantage of the opportunity, jumped out of tied, and grappled with him. A desperate struggle followed, but Major Cookson managed to hold the burglar until as-u-Lunce arrived, and Levine'was promptly turned over to the police. Major and Mrs Cookson had arranged to sail on the Baltic at 2 p.m the "same day. Levine was accordingly indicted bv the grand jury the same morning, brought to trial, pleaded guilty to burglary and assault, and was promotly sentenced to "not less than ten years' and not more than forty years' " penal servitude.^ Major and Mr* Cookson testified to the facts before the grand jury, and then, jumping into a motor car, drove to the dock just in time to board the Baltic before she sailed.