A SYDNEY SENSATION

Evening Star, Issue 14035, 16 April 1909, Page 7

A SYDNEY SENSATION

ENCOUNTER WITH A BURGLAR. " Ladore," the residence of Mr Russell Sinclair, in North Sydney, on the heights overlooking Neutral Bay, was the scene on the Ist hist, of an encounter with a burglar, as a result of which Mr Sinclair was shot twice in the groin. His assailant escaped from the house, and, when pursued by Constable Gates, shots were exchanged in the street. Before the man was captured he beat the constable so badly about the bead with the butt end of his revolver that the wounds thus received required twenty-three stitches. About live o'clock in the morning an intruder was heard moving about" the grounds at "Ladore." ,Mr Sinclair was aroused, and pursued' the stranger downstairs. On reaching the kitchen the intruder found his retreat cut off. Pointing a revolver, he threatened to shoot. Though unarmed, Mr Sinclair bravely closed with him. and knocked the muzzle of the revolver upward. The trigger being pulled at that moment, the shot went into the ccilinu;. The two men struggled in the dim light of dawn, scattering the furniture about they fell together. Retaining his lipid of the revolver, the stranger fired twice. These bullets lodged ' in Mr Sinclair's groin, and ' thus rendered helpless lie collapsed, and the man escaped. All this happened very quickly, but meanwhile the household was thoroughly alarmed, and telephoned to the police. Two constables set out, and one accosted a man near Jeffrey street. The stranger, who kept his right hand in his pocket, replied that he was on his way to visit someone in Carabella street. Constable. Gates asked him why lie kept lii.s baud in his pocket, whereupon tho man drew a revolver, fired, and then bolted. The shot missed Gates, who started off after the man. As he ran, the man turned and fired again twice, but still without efleet. Gates then fired, and an exchange of'shots was kept up. The constable was not hit, but it was afterwards ascertained that one ot bis bullets had grazed the fugitive's neck, causing a slight flesh wound. Gates came up with his quarry near Livingstone lane. A hand to hand fight ensued The man gave Gates a blow with the butt end of his revolver and partially stunned him, but Gates never allowed his prisoner to elude him. \\ hile endeavoring to handcuff him the constable was furiously attacked, blow after blow being delivered about t'is head with the butt- end of the revolver. The man actually got free, but Gates pluckily followed him, and was joined by a civilian who had been alarmed by the noise of the conflict. i<Hiding the chase hot, the fugitive dashed down the steps into Fitzrov street. Here lie was finally captured the constable getting the handcuffs on to lum. The prisoner proved to be John Frederick Cook, twenty-two years

r age, a returned soldier from South fnca. In addition to severe bruises nd lacerations to his head, his arms ere torn and scratched. As already

advised by cable, the man is a New Zealander. For months past there has been an' epidemic of robberies from houses at North Sydney, and the police on the Shore have had their night strength increased in order to capture the thieves.