A BURGLAR'S MISTAKE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 11, 13 July 1922, Page 8

A BURGLAR'S MISTAKE

BREAKS INTO CHIEF-DETECTIVE'S

HOUSE

EXCITING CHASE THROUGH THE STREETS. ■

Switching the electric light on suddenly at 3 o'clock this1 morning, Chief-Detective T. S. Ci Kemp, who is in charge of the looal detective foroe, found a man about a yard from the head of his bed. On being discovered, the intruder picked up a scent bottle and threw it at Mr. Kemp. The missile narrowly missed its mark, and landed on the pillow, a few inches | from Mrs. Kemp's head. • The burglar then made away, but was oaught by the- ChiefDeteoiive after an exciting chase. This is a brief outline of an exciting happening in Murphy-street at an early hour this morning. Chief-Detective Kemp and a Mr. W. 0. Brown, a visitor to Wellington, h*d been to the raoee at Trentham during the day, and both had a considerable amount of money in their possession, At Mr. Kemp's suggestion, however, this was oarefully secreted, and all that was loft in Mr. Kemp's clothing was small change amounting to about 20s in all. All the occupants of the house — Mr. and Mrs. Kemp, "their thTee children, and Mr. Brown—retired to bed about 10.30 o'clock. About 3 o'clock, ChiefDetective Kemp was awakened by a alight noise. He listened for a while, and, as the noiae was repeated, he switched on the light, and found a big man standing about a yard from the bed. Mr. Kemp jumped out of bed, and as foe did so' the burglar threw tho bottle at ,hia head. The bottle missod Mr. Kemp, who then chased the intruder down tho passage, where the former had tho misfortuno to fall over hi* pyjamas, which were now falling off. Mr. Kemp then realised that to leave.the premises the burglaj would have to' get away by the front gate, and he accordingly went out by the. front door. It was then found that the intruder had a break of thirty yards. ! Chief Detective Kemp followed him, and the chase took in Mur-phy-street, tho lower part of Pipitea-street and Davis-street—about a quarter of a mile in all. In Pipitea-street the burglar fell, and Mr. Kemp was able to get within ten yards of his man. A little further on the man stopped, and Chief Detective Kemp ran past him. Mr. Kemp got back to the burglar, who tried to strike him, but the detective got in first with an upper cut. Tho burglar wa« overpowered and taken back to the house, where, with the assistance of Mr. Brown, and after another struggle in the kitchen, he waa securely tied up. MeanSme the police were sent for, and they looked after the man from then on. When the burglar was eearohed it was found that he had » blouse, watoh, fountain pen, and £2 in money in his possession. . As a result of the chase, Chief -Detective Kemp's feet were badly lacerated, as he had not tame 'to put on any shoos before going ' after his man. This morning, the accused man, Davis Da vies, 21 years of age, appeared before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on a charge of breaking and entering Mr. Kemp's house, 26b, i Murphy-street, and stealing the artioles detailed above, which were valued at £6. ■ ...■■■.

On the applioation of. Chief-Detective Kemp, the aocused was remanded until Wednesday next. •