“I'LL KILL YOU."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 189, 15 July 1925, Page 11

“I'LL KILL YOU."

MELBOURNE HOLD-UP. STRUGGLE IN HOUSE. MELBOURNE, June JO. After a dramatic tussle, shortly after o a.m. to-day, with a masked and armed burglar, who threatened to kill him, Leonard Darling, a merchant, threw the intruder down a flight of stairs in his house, iu Heyington Place, Toorak. Without further argument, the man tore out 6f the front door, which he had left open, and made his escape, leaving his felt hat behind. He had not time to take any booty. He is now- being sought by the police. Mr Darling is a member of 'the firm of John Darling and Son, grain merchants and flour millers, of King street, city.

Just after 5 a.m. Mr Darling was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom, and he awakened to hear a stealthy tread on the stairs and the faint creak of tho landing just outside his door. He sprang out of bed and flung his door open, surprising on the landing a slight, short man, who carried in one hand a pistol, while with the other ho played an electric torch on the surroundings. Mr Darling rushed at the intruder, who backed quickly, and, levelling his pistol, cried: “I’ll kill you!” Disregarding the situation in which he was placed, Mr Darling pluckily closed with his assailant, and a fierce struggle ensued. They rolled on the landing, and when the burglar regained his feet the two crashed against the bannisters. As they were nearing the edge of the landing Mr Darling, with a mighty effort, grasped the other man in his arms, and flung him down the stairs. The man then fled.

.Mr Darling sustained an injury to his hand.