MAN HUNT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 26 October 1928, Page 5

MAN HUNT

FUGITIVE BANDIT SHOT DEAD BY POLICE United Press Association—By Electric Tolegraph—Copyright Australian Preßa Association (Received 26th October, 9.15 a.m.) COLOGNE, 25th October. The elusive bandit Heidger was located in the grounds of a suburban house. The police took no risks, and shot him dead. HIDING IN A CELLAR

(Received 26th October, 9.50 a.m.) COLOGNE, 25th October. A maid discovered the bandit Heidger hiding in a villa cellar, lie fired, and missed. Her screams brought tho owner, who locked himself and family in a bedroom nnd tried to telephone tho police, but Heidger cut the wires. Other, signals, however, brought the police, who used bullet proof shields and threw hand grenades into the cellar. Heidger replied, wounding one, till he collapsed in a corner with eight wounds. He cried, "I have had enough; I surrender."

There is some doubt as to whether he succumbed before or after his removal to a hospital.

FURTHER DETAILS

(Received 261 h October, 12.40 p.m.) COLOGNE, 25th October.

Heidger was discovered in a large villa, where he contrived to remain throughout the day unnoticed, vandering from room to room and dodging occupants until a maid-servant accidentally discovered him in tho cellar. When she gave the alarm tho bandit cut the telephone wires and barricaded himself in a second floor bedroom. A hundred gendarmes were soon on the spot and the owner of the villa and his family were removed to safety. The police donned bullet-proof clothing and began a search of the house. When they found the room they hacked a hole in the door, which was heavily barricaded with furniture. When summoned to surrender Heidger replied with a pistol shot. The police returned the fire through the hole. Heidger then fired on police in the street, who replied with carbines. After he had killed" a policeman the police hurled three grenades into tho room. Heidger feigned surrender, but retired, whereupon the police opened fire and wounded him seven times in the head, chest and stomach.

A curious feature of the case was that Heidger scribbled affectionate letters to his father, brothers, sisters, and fiancee while behind the barricade. To his father lie wrote: "Time is passing quickly. They are already coming. Thank you for kindness. Help mother to bear the terrible blow." He also wrote to the public prosecutor asking him to be lenient to the third man captured on Saturday, saying he seduced the third man into crime. The police victims include Philip Volmer, a brilliant detective responsible for the arrest of Frank Swaboda, who murdered the New Zealander at Mulheim in 1919.