GIRL AND BURGLAR.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 17

GIRL AND BURGLAR.

j DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. glßl, IMPRISONED IN A CUPBOARD.

to* story of how a brave servant-girl, in her mistress' house, fought flfti an armed burglar ha, just come

Xl girl * Alice Knowles. She is nineJn years of age, and is engaged as a JSdserrent at the house of Councilor S£U, Durd.«, Koxley Lane, Puriey. other afternoon she was left alone in fpiTofa-wwlngnt.herroydonllos-*7while Mr Brlnkworth was engaged P TL business place in South Norwood. a ' A t 30 the girl was upstair* sewing UB she saw a mau walk up the front "I. to the door and ring. ct went to the door, and he walked R truVtl* side nnd aSked if Mrs Brinkworth 'la She replied that her mistress was

W Wtat then occurred is not quite certain, M y rate the man seized hold of the Oci, -pulled out a jemmy, and threatened ,-, -murder her. She struggled violently in the hall and teamed, and he then hit her over the £ad with the jemmy and forced her Into . cupboard under the stairs. She wag very weak, but she managed , jsi, the door open, and he then struck ler wo more blows ou the head, which rendered her completely unconscious. To make sure that she would not come nt again be went into the drawing room, trough* out a settee, pushed it against the jnor end then brought an armchair from (He dining room, wedging that between the jjttee and the wall. Having effectually eiJenced and imprisoned the girl, he went upstairs and rapidly overhauled three looms. First of all he went into Mrs Brinkworth's bedroom, turned out all the drawers, and threw the things on the floor, and also tnrned up the bed to see if anything was jildden underneath. lie only found, however, a pair of opera glasses. lie then Ttent into a back bedroom, opened the jrardrobe, took out Mr Brinkworth's best overcoat, which he put on, and hie straw tat, -which, the thief exchanged for his own tart felt hat. Then he went to the servant's bedroom and took a black metal watch and 10/ hi silver. Nest he entered the bathroom, washed his hands of blood, which had streamed from the girl's head, and went downstairs, wiping his hands on the towel, jllch he left in the drawing room.

Soon after he had made his escape the girl Alice Knowles recovered, and by an elmost superhuman effort managed to burst open toe barricaded door of the cupboard. S&e was very weak from loss of blood, but jte managed to go into the dining room jnd take a police whistle from the mantelpiece. Then she stood on the doorstep and Hew the whistle. Staggering to the gate, die blew It again, and then fell down In a State of exhaustion.

Fortunately a policeman on a bicycle lend the Round of the whistle, and quickly rode to the front gate of the house, where it found the Injured girl lying on the ground In a state of semi-unconsciousness. Hβ sort for an ambulance, and she was taken .to the Purley Cottage Hospital, ■Viine she is now lying. She hag three Terj severe scalp wounds, but she Is exited to recover.