TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3948, 26 October 1891, Page 2

TERRIBLE ENCOUNTER

A OonstaWo Shoots a Burglar-

An exciting incident occurred last week at Yarra Glen, a constable finding it necessary, in a hand-to-hand struggle with a burglar, to use his revolver in order to save his own life. For some time back houses have been broken into and robbed in Healesville district, in which Yarra Glen is situated, and it came to the knowledge of the police that one who was playing a leading part in the bmglaries was a Frenchman, who went by the name ot " Joe." It is suspected that he was a HberUe from New Caledonia. The man was traced by the police as having sojourned in [different localities, and on Friday last Senior-Constable Duwey, of Eltham, ran him to earth at Muddy Ureek (near Yarra Glen). Unfortunately the constable was single handed with the result already indicated. A chance mighc, howerer, have resulted in the murder of the eonstable, instead of the well-merited homicide of a dangerous criminal. Muddy Creek is a very wild piece of country, known as the " Gorge." Constable Dungey had been riding alone for two miles when a man, who turned out to bn " Joe," came suddenly down the mountain's aide, and seeing a horseman in plain clothes, but with a military seat, made as though he would run back into the bush, The constable was prompt to act, Drawing his revolver, he covered tho mau and called out : "I'm a policeman, Don't move or I'll shoot you. I want to ask you a question or two. "What's your nan e? The man answered in broken English "Me Joe" and Dungey, satisfied that he h"* lighted upon the true oriminal, threw ili3 handcuffs at the man's feet, and ordered him to put them on. Thid the Frenchman did, but instead of clasping them he watched his chance, and suddenly throwing the irons away made for the creek. The constable was off his horse in a moment, and being fleeter of foot, caught his man after a hundred yards' run, persuaded him, at the revolver's point, to allow his wrists to be strapped with the trooper> waist belt. Hampered by his revolver which was still held, Dungey found this a aomewlufc awkward job, and before the fastening could be made secure his prisoner suddenly wrested his arm free, and grasping the revolver threw himself upon the constable. In such a struggle as now jommenced the advantage was altogether with the criminal. A tall man, but of slight build, Dungey was no match for his [robust antagonist, who, though of I medium height was powerfully developed, and weighed at least a stone heavier. Both men had a grip on the revolver, and the conflict therefore resolved itself into one of pure thews and sinews. Over and over the two mt>n rolled, each alternately uppermost, aud all the while Dungey felt the Frenchman gradually forcing his wrist back, and saw the muzzle of the revolver falling gradually into line with his own body. Desperately as he struggled he could do little, and it was more by good fortune than by main strength that, as the Frenchman pulled the trigger, the pistol barrel was dashed up, and the bullet went flying harmlessly away into spaco. Jt <vas with horror that Dungey reflected that the ball *as only one out of six, and that his strength was rapidly failing him. Again he was undermost, his antagonist lying across his body and grappling for the revolver. Then there was a flash and a report, and Dungey lost consciousness. When he recovered night wbs falling. Everything was quite still, and his body was still pressed down by a heavy weight. Across him, where ho had lam before the second shot was fired, lay the Frenchman, but quite daad. The great Webley bullet had penetrated the nape of the neck, and found a passage out above the left eyebrow, making a ghastly wound from which the blood was still flowing. Sick and exhausted, Dungey staggered to his feet and made the best of his way to a settler's house and reported what had occurred. An inquest was opened yesterday, but had to be adjourned owing to the district ' coroner having fallen under the in fluence of the influenza fiend.