FLYING TACKLE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 16

FLYING TACKLE.

BURGLAR DOWNED.

EX-MAYOR'S GAME EFFORT.

FIGHT ON STAIRCASE. With a flying tackle, a former Mayor of North Sydney, Alderman R. C. Forsyth, brought down a burglar on the staircase at his home in Rocklands Road, Wollstonecraft, For 10 minutes there was a terrific struggle. As his daughter, Miss Cecily Forsyth, the exMayoress, arrived to assist him, the thief escaped, his only booty consisting of a new pair of silk stockings belonging to her.

Alderman Forsyth, who is also North Sydney representative on the Water Board, and is a city merchant, had always prided himself on being -j ligl t isiieper; but ho has a different ideaato day, for, before he knew there was a burglar in his house, the intruder had entered his room and rifled his pockets. The pocket containing his money was overlooked, however, says the Sydney "Sun."

Turning in his bed about 3 a.m., Mr. Forsyth knocked the hot-water bottle teethe floor. The noise awakened him and disturbed the thief, who was then in Miss Forsyth's room. She, however, was sleeping on the balcony.

Tn another upstairs room the housekeeper* Miss Nellie Neweonibe, was sleeping. She saw the flicker of the intruder's torch, and, believing that someone had left a light burning, donned a dressing-gown and went to investigate.

She almost collided with the burglar on the landing.

Flying Leap.

A moment later, Mr. Forsyth dashed from his room aiul saw the thief fleeing down the stairs. The ex-Mayor was a champion school runner and crack winger in the school Rugby team. He took a flying leap from the top of the stairs and landed on the burglar's back.

They fell together and rolled down the stairs, Mr. Forsyth oil top. His face was cut, his ribs injured, and one knee badly bruised and strained.

A terrific fight followed. The housekeeper ran to the light switch and found that the power had beon cut off at the meter—as was done recently, when the Lord Mayor (Alderman Howie) also disturbed a burglar at his Hunter's Hill home. She ran to telephone the police and at the same time called loudly to Miss Forsyth.

Still lighting strongly, tlio burglar pleaded to be let go. "I certainly will not!" replied Mr. Forsyth. Youth was on the intruder's side, and he slowly gained the advantage. He was struggling fiercely when Miss Forsyth appeared.

"Oh, you big brute!'' she shouted. Taking the stairs two at a time, she reached her father's side as the thief broko free. She was unable to prevent his escape, but, clad in night attire and dressing-gown, she chased him into the garden. It was bright moonlight and she saw him leap over a fence and escape. He left a torch behind. "When he begged for his freedom, I asked myself what kind of burpbir was he,"' said Mr. Forsyth later. "But he. fought on just as strongly when I refused..- , j

"He \y_rs a Report, though, . in one resjtect—lie made 110 effo ( rt to strike me with the long torch, which ho dropped during . "Give all the credit to daddy," smiled Miss Forsyth.