CONSTABLE'S PLUCK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1716, 6 January 1920, Page 2

CONSTABLE'S PLUCK.

FACES REVOLVER AND ARRESTS

MURDERER,

AN EXCITING SCUFFLE.

On Christmas Eve, shortly after 11 o’clock Probationary Constable • Albert Edward Michael, who, on account of being engaged on night duty in the Redfern di-vision, was oft' duty for the day, was walking down Oxford street (Sydney) towards the city, when lie noticed two men quarrelling on the corner ot Pelican street and the lane. He walked inwards them, but before ho reached the corner a shot was ficred. and the soldier—whose name was afterwards ascertained to be George F. Long, of Palmer street, Darlinghurst—fell dead on the footpath. The bullet had entered beneath his arm, ana most have penetarted the heart. Michael, who was in plain clothes, ana had fpjther revolver, .baton, nor handcuffs, made a dash at the other man just as la turned to run down the lane. The lane is over ICO yards long, but after running -about--7£ yards Michael got to within 10 yards of the man as he turned into Brisbane street;'

CONSTABLE SHOT

Then the young constable gave a remarkable demonstration bf pluck and resourcefulness. Tho fugitive turned and faced him, and fired a shot at him from a revolver. The bullet entered Michael's neck on the left side, immediately below the ear, but its course was deflected, and. it lodged just beneath the skin of his chin. Michael felt rhe bullet there, and calmly picked it .out ■with his lingers and'hpiil it in his pocket. That was done within a twinkling, and without hesitating further, although the revolver wa> (-.till h-vellcd at.-him. lie rushed at tho man, gripped him by'the right" hand, and wrenched the weapon from him. The man then commenced to struggle violently,' and it was some minutes before Michael was able to use his arms freely. Ho disengaged his right arm, and having turned the, revolver so as to grasp it by the muzzle, brought the. butt down land several times, on to his prisoner’s head. The blows ‘ rendered him helpless, and blood flowed from the deep wounds on the top of the scalp. " Michael then threw Jiim to the ground and sat on him in the hope of assistance being offered by someone in the crowd which had followed tho chase. This was forthcoming from Charles Edward Spaull, who helped to hold tho prisoner down. , PRISONER* HANDCUFFED Constable C. Williams, of Darlinghurst, was on duty in Oxford-street, and when he heard the shots, he ran round from Pelicanstreet- and handcuffed {ho prisoner, who gave his naind as Edward ("Slack”) O’Brien,' and his ago ns 28. /

Constable Rndcliffo, also of Darlinghurst, arrived soon afterwards and in tho Civil Ambulance took Long’s body first to Sydney Hospital, where the fact of death was confirmed, and then to the morgue. Constable Williams and Malone look charge of the arrested man who, after being treated at Sydney Hospital was taken to tho Darlinghurst Station in a cab, and charged with murder. , ONLY THREE WEEKS IN THENFORCE,

Constable Minimal was taken to Bt Vincent’s Hospital and attended' by Dr. Maher, He was not seriously wounded, however, and was later able to leave.

Michael has been in tho police force only three weeks. He joined as a probationary constable at the beginning of (lie month, Ho enlisted in April 1916, and received his discharge on tho 17th of this month. While at the war ho was promoted to the rank of corporal. He is, a native of Parramatta.