BOY v. BURGLAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 9 July 1925, Page 8

BOY v. BURGLAR.

THRILLING STRUG GI,E. SCOUT KNIFE v. SPANNER. Finding a burglar iti the house, a 15-year-old hoy at Rondi (Sydney) attacked him, and in the thrilling struggle which followed the boy not only beat off the burglar, but recovered stolen money from bis pockets. Early in the afternoon Mrs. B. G. Watson, of Francis Street, Bondi, received an urgent telephone call to the city, and she and her little daughter left home soon after luncheon. Her son Lionel, who is only 15 years old, but of stalwart build, returned home from schooj shortly before six o’clock and found that the family was out. He entered by the front door, and hesitated at the entrance to the dining room, which was in darknes s owing to the electric light switch 'having fused. There in the dim light near the window wa s a man crouching on the couch. The lad immediately sized up the position. A run, and a lean, and he sprang on top of the burglar. The two wrestled and fought in the darkness all over the room, knocking furniture over and dragging up carpets and mats. Releasing himself, the lad clutched a spanner lying on the sidehoard, and the burglar seized a large scout’s knife which was at the other end of the sideboard. Thus armed the two returned to the attack. The robber made a thrust at the boy, who. however, dodged the vicious weapon, which grazed his arm for about six inches. Then the hoy hit the intruder on the head with the spanner aiul the man made for the window.

As he was getting through young Watson pulled half his coat off, and from a. pocket recovered £6 in notes that has been taken from a drawer. But the burglar managed to escape, though he got nothing but a hiding for his trouble. He had about £2O worth of silverware and cutlery wrapped up ready to take away with him. The boy bears a few minor injuries to his arms and hands. ,