SHOT IN BACK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 2

SHOT IN BACK

DASH FOR LIBERTY DARING YOUNG CRIMINAL <0.C.) SYDNEY, Sept. 28. "I thought I'd beat those cops, but my legs weren't long enough. Don't worry, dear, I'll beat this rap—l'll beat all the raps. The bullet has not been made yet to get this chicken."

Alfred Henry Singleton, 26. daring criminal, muttered these words to his wife as he lay in Sydnev Hospital only a few minutes after he had been shot in the back by a warder while attempting to escape from the Apptil Court. He had been allowed to go to a convenience and was walking out of it, still in handcuffs. when he said to the warder, "Good-bye. dad—l'm going through," and dashed for a side gate. Dropping a parcel of papers and records, the warder drew his revolver and called on Singleton to stop but Singleton ran on. As Singleton pulled open a latched gate the warder fired, and Singleton spun round, shot in the back. Bullet in Lung The warder led his prisoner around to the sheriff's office at the Court as blood oozed from Singleton's back. As he entered the room Singleton collapsed on the floor. Central District Ambulance was called and Singleton was rushed to Sydney Hospital. The bullet—.32 calibre—had entered his back below the left shoulder blade, and was embedded in his lung. He was given a blood transfusion, but was too weak to have the bullet removed.

A few minutes after his admission to hospital, Singleton's wife. Clara, whom he married last February, arrived with Mrs. Singleton, sen., and they were allowed to speak to him for a short while. His wife said later: "Alf and I are kind of boy and girl sweethearts, but since our marriage I have seen him onlv in the time he has been out of gaol. I've been trying to get him to go straight. I think he would, too, if he could get clear of all this mess. He got a job in a munition works when he cams out of gaol in January. But he .was arrested again a few weeks later."

Although only 26. Singleton has led a life of crime for years and earned a reputation as a most daring and persistent car thief. He has been known to steal and strip as many as four cars in one clav.

Early on Jqne 25 Singleton, who the previous day had appeared at Newtown Court on 30 charges relating to the illegal use of cars, burned his way out of a cell at Newtown police station, joined his wife at her home nearby, and went "into smoke." On July 13, he was rearrested in a flat at Bondi. On July 17, at Newtown Court, the interrupted hearing of the 30 charges was resumed, and Mr. Mahoney, S.M., sentenced Singleton to two years' gaol. It was against this sentence he was appealing. Subsequently Singleton was also sentenced to five years' for assault and robbery, and he has yet to face the charge relating to his escape from the Newtown cell.