A MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MIDNIGHT STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR.

THE WRONG MAN ARRESTED.

The circumstances surrounding a charge of burglary and stealing, investigated at CollingAvood, Melbourne, Avere someAvhat out of the ordinary. The accused was a young man named George Henry Kellett, a labourer, avlio Avas charged Avith having on the night of 12th January last broken into tbe house of Isabella Persse, married woman; at 5 Gipps-street, and stolen therefrom a bag of sugar, a quantity of sugar, and some jeAvellery, etc., valued at £30. Prosecutrix said that she and her husband kept a grocery business at the address stated; but on the night in question her husband A\ ras absent on a business engagement. She Avas aAvakened about midnight by hearing a man in the bedroom. A kerosene lamp was burning brightly, and she distinctly saAv a man ransacking a chest of draAvers by her bedside. She arose and made toAvards the intruder, demanding the reason of his presence. His only reply Avas to seize hold of her and throAV her to the floor. When she arose he caught her by both arms and AATenched them, causing her intense pain. She struggled with him for about twenty minutes, and eventually managed to escape into the street and alarm the neighbours. The police Avere sent for, but by the time they entered the place the intruder had gone. An examination proved that he had gained an entrance by breaking a AvincloAV. A box containing jewellery Avas missing from prosecutrix's room, and the groceries, etc., were missing from the shop. The missing articles Avere all found, with the exception of the jewellery, on a sofa in a back room, ready for removal. . Witness had her doubts as to the identity of- the prisoner. On the Ist June accused Avas brought to her by Detective Armstrong, and Avitness then said, 'He is the man.' She Avas hoav uncertain as to the correctness of that statement. ~:&..

Detective Armstrong stated 'that on Ist June he met accused In Langridgestreet, and said: 'Hallo, Geor|^-!_Hsi*6 been looking for you for some tinie. You ansAver the description of a man wanted for burglary about sis months ago.' Accused said, 'you have got the wrong man.' Witness then arrested him, and took him to Mrs Persse, AA'ho identified him as the man Avith Aviiom she had the struggle.

The Bench considered that the prosecution had failed to establish the complaint, and discharged the accused.