DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH THIEVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9124, 4 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH THIEVES.

A POLICEMAN KILLED.

Frederick Wood, "Jo, and Edward Warne, 25, described as carmen, and giving an address at a common lodging- in the Pimlico Road, were charged at the Westminster Police Court, on June S, with stealing zinc flower-boxes, the property of Mr. Andrew Burrall, from his garden in the Vale, King's Road, Chelsea. The first-named prisoner was further charged with causing the death of Police-Constable Michael Lewis, 81 B, by an injury occasioned during violent resistance to lawful apprehension. The prisoner Warne was also additionally charged with assaulting Police-Constable Robert Peek. 141 B.

Constable Peek deposed that at. 7 o'clock on Thursday night lie saw the two prisoners leaving the Vale, in the King's Road, Chelsea, Warne carrying a quantity of zinc on his shoulder. Witness took them in custody and gave Wood into the charge of the deceased constable, who was in uniform. On the way to the station the prisoner Warne seized him in the lower part of the body, and caused him to feel sick. Warne struck him a very violent blow at the back of the ear, and kicked him in the stomach. Both prisoners were sober. He was on the ground after the blows he received from W arne, when Wood, who was passing in custody of other constables, made a struggle to get at him, and his own prisoner was so violent that he hail to call on a private gentleman to assist him.

Mr. Partridge : Did you see the deceased and the prisoner Wood at the station? Witness : Yes. The constable Lewi.-; complained of a pain in the stomach. He said he was injured in the side ; that he had twisted himself in the struggle. The divisional surgeon was sent for, and before his arrival I bathed the deceased's temples with water. About 10 minutes to nine he got up in the police yard to walk to get 'lore air. Instantly he fell to the ground, bleeding profusely from the eyes, mouth, and nose. The doctor came then, and said that, he was dead.

Mr. George Richardson Strachan, surveyor ft the Chelsea vestry, deposed : I was walking along the King's Road, on Thursday night, ana as I was passing the Vale I saw a crowd and Police-Constable 141 B holding the prisoner 'Varne by the coat. The policeman had his ti'ineheon in the right hand, upraised. Warne was kicking savagely at the front part of the constable's body ; striking most violently with both fists and struggling to get away. The policeman struck his prisoner over the thigh with his truncheon. The prisoner then closed with the constable, and they came out from the kerb into the carriage-way, struggling together. There Warne tried to throw the constable under a florist's van and the wheels of an omnibuv. The struggle was continued, and the officer was thrown heavily on his back. I seized the prisoner Warne, and held him down, and the constable, after lying on the ground a few seconds, got up and again took his man. I said to \i arm.', " \\ hy do you not go quietly?" and he replied, "Way did he strike me in the mouth ?" Assistance then arrived.

Mr. Partridge told Mr. Strachan that he had behaved in an admirable way. Inspector Bickley, 13 Division, said lie was on duty at Chelsea Police Station when the prisoners were brought in. The deceased constable Lewis brought Wood in first. Wood was quite sober. When Lewi; brought his prisoner in he did not seem injured, and made no complaint. The constable Fcek came in, and the deceased assisted him to mend his torn uniform, and to brush his clothes. At S. .'lO Lewis was about to leave the station to go on his beat, and then he complained of a tightness of the chest and faintness. The man rapidly became worse, starting bleeding from the eyes and mouth, and breathed his last as the divisional surgeon entered the yard gates. He was 4S years of age, and a strong, healthy man of 'JO years' service. He had left a widow and chidren. By the prisoner Wood : The constable did not charge you with any assault. The prisoners were remanded in custody.