BURGLAR CAUGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1935, Page 3

BURGLAR CAUGHT

SCUFFLE WITH BOARDER. AUCKLAND, .June 24. An encounter occurrded early yesterday morning outside an apartment house in Park Avenue, Grafton, between two strangers and two fcoaiders. The incidents leading to the affair were described by a boarder, Mr L. ■Martin, who said tlmt at 2.110 the occupiers of the apartment house were disturbed by the sound of two intruders in the main passageway. The men, he said, had with them an electric torch, and they were heard to be trying several of the doors. The men opened a door and flashed the torch on two women. When there was a general alarm in the household the intruders disappeared, but the police were notified of the occurrence bv telephone. No search was made at this stage, but shotly afterward a boarder occupying a front room gave the alarm that two men were at the front gate. Mr Martin and another boarder left the apartment house and accosted the men. Mr Martin carried a stout baton.

‘‘While we were asking these men what they were doing one of them started to edge away,” stated Mr. Martin. ‘‘l asked him to stop, but he would not do so. Tie got about 100 yards away toward Park Road and T followed. This man struck at me, and I received a blow on the neck. There was a sen file, and I broke the baton over the man’s head. He staggered, but was able to run on. He disappeared over a feme and escaped.”

Mr Martin returned to the apartment house, where no resistance to the. other hoarder had been offered by the second suspect. This man was taken into a police patrol oar which arrived ou'ok]v, and he is to appear in the Police Court.