ARMED BURGLAR

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 10

ARMED BURGLAR

SHOPKEEPER WOUNDED

NO TRACE OF ASSAILANT

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHBISTCIIURCII, 16th July. When Edward Hammond, of Hammond and Turner, hardware merchants, Oxford terrace, visited thefirm's premises at about 9.30 to-night he surprised a man in a store at the back of the shop. Ho caught the intruder, a young man, and was taking him to the front door to haud him over to tho police when the captive drow a firearm and shot Mr. Hammond in the back. Ho then bolted towards tho rear of tho premises. Mr. Hammond managed to struggle on to the footpath, -where he called to passerS-by, telling them he was shot. The police were at once informed, and . when they arrived a thorough search of the" place was made, but without any trace of tho man being found. Dr. Marks was summoned, and after receiving attention Mr. Hammond was removed to hospital. He is suffering from a wound iv the back and shock, but his condition is not serious. Ho states that the man appeared to be about 20 years of age, with a very pale complexion, about Gft in height and of very slight build. The bullet, of about .22 calibre entered below the heart and grazed the bottom of tho left lung. Had the shot been two inches higher it would have been fatal. Investigations show that the assailant entered through the roof o± Hammond and Turner's premises in the same manner as an earlier intruder got in some months ago. A right-of-way runs round tho back of the building, where a small passage leads to tho fire-door in Hammond and Turner s store. There he clambered up a dram-pipe on to the roof. Some tiles wore stil] missii> from the roof where tho previous entry was made, and the thief lowered himself to the floor His urst thought was to make an exit for himself. In doing-this he showed that he had a good knowledge of the building, for he made his way through a door connecting Messrs. Hammond and Turner's place with part of the building occupied by Combined Buyers Ltd., and opening on Hammond and Turner's side. He then went through the building to a slide door opening fiom Combined Buyers, Ltd., into th! right-of-way. This ho opened, thus preparing for himself a ready exit in oy Mi Mi. Halhgan is situated in the right-of-way. Mr. Halligan not only saw but conversed with a man answering to the description given by Mr. Hammond to the police. Mr Halligan had heard a rattling noise in the right-of-way, and when he went to the door of the garage ho saw a man In answer to Mr. Halligan the man "said that ho was looking for a lavatory Subsequently the man went away. Mr Halhgan did not know anything of the occurrence until the police called. He did not hear tho shot, as ho had a car running m the garage. It was reported to-day that Mr. Hammond's condition is improving, though ho js weak from loss of blood An Xray examination will be made to locate tlie bullet.